KABUL, March 28, 2010 -- The United States President Barrack Obama invited Afghan President Hamid Karzai to visit Washington, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the planned date for that visit is May 12.
The U.S. president Obama, flew to Afghanistan on Air Force One, landing at Bagram Air Base at 7:24 p.m. (around 11 a.m. ET). Obama then flew on a helicopter to the Presidential Palace to meet with Karzai.
After meeting with Karzai, the U.S. president is to meet Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Afghanistan's military officials and cabinet members.
Obama and Karzai have discussed Afghanistan's efforts of battling corruption and poppy production, which is believed to be the major financial resources of the Taliban.
The two leaders are to discuss on the reintegration and reconciliation process which was launched by the Afghan government.
It was Obama's first tour to Afghanistan after he took the presidency in January 2009. He paid a visit here as a senator and a presidential candidate in 2008. Obama ordered the deployment of an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan while also saying he intended for troops to start coming home in July 2011.
