Hamid Karzai

16 June 2008 -- Afghanistan's president has threatened to send troops after Taliban militants who take sanctuary in neighboring Pakistan. Analysts say the threat is somewhat hollow. But it does increase the danger of a miscalculation along the Pakistan-Afghan border.

Analysts discount that President Hamid Karzai would actually be able to follow through on his threat to dispatch troops into Pakistan in hot pursuit of Islamic militant fighters. They point out that the Afghan National Army is still relatively weak and that most military and security functions in Afghanistan are handled by NATO forces.

Hilary Synnott, a former British ambassador to Pakistan, also says the NATO security forces policing Afghanistan would try to head off any such action.    » read more »

November 7, 2007 -- This morning President Bush called President Karzai of Afghanistan to express his deepest sympathies regarding the horrendous suicide bombing in Baglan province yesterday.

The cold blooded killers targeted innocent schoolchildren and lawmakers who were there to celebrate the opening of a new sugar factory.

The President said that the murderous act reminds all of us about the brutality of the enemy we are facing.    » read more »

30 September 2007 -- The Taleban says it will never talk peace with the Afghan government as long as foreign troops remain in the country.

Taleban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi said Sunday the militant group has no interest in taking government posts, and is only interested in the withdrawal of foreign forces.

His remarks came a day after Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered government positions to insurgent leaders willing to disarm and join the country's political establishment.    » read more »

13 August 2007 -- Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is set to visit neighboring Afghanistan this week for the first time since taking office two years ago.

Mr. Ahmadinejad will hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the capital, Kabul, on Tuesday. Officials say the purpose of the trip is to strengthen bilateral ties.

Kabul has maintained good relations with Iran since the Taleban was ousted from Afghanistan in 2001, despite tensions between the United States, a key Afghan ally, and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program.    » read more »

10 August 2007 -- Hundreds of Pakistani and Afghan politicians and tribal leaders are meeting in Kabul to discuss improving border security and strengthening bilateral relations. In Afghan capital the second day of the four-day peace conference is in session.

Delegates attending the conference, or "jirga," say Friday's talks will tackle specific issues dividing the South Asian neighbors.

Each blames the other for a recent surge in violence by Islamic militants along their shared border.    » read more »

09 August 2007 -- Hundreds of Pakistani and Afghan delegates are holding a landmark peace conference, or jirga, in the Afghan capital, Kabul. The four-day talks are focused on curbing pro-Taleban violence and improving ties between the two countries. From Kabul, VOA Correspondent Benjamin Sand reports the jirga has already encountered its first major setback.

The jirga opened Thursday morning under a cloud after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf abruptly canceled a much-anticipated appearance, to deal with political problems at home.    » read more »