Obama, Karzai discusses range of issues

WASHINGTON(PAN office, the progress made in reconciliation and security transition, the White House said.

This was the first phone call between the two leaders after the recent Kabul visits of the Secretary of State, John Kerry, and the Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel.

The White House said this was part of their regular consultations, during which they discussed a range of issues, including security transition, preparations for Afghanistan’s 2014 elections, and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation efforts.

The leaders welcomed Afghan security forces’ increasingly assuming lead security responsibility across the country.  They also look forward to the spring 2013 milestone, which will mark a shift in ISAF’s mission from combat to support, as Afghan forces assume the operational lead across the country.

The White House said in its statement, Karzai affirmed his support for an inclusive process of preparing for Afghanistan’s 2014 elections, and the leaders noted that free, fair, and credible elections would be critical to Afghanistan’s future and continued international support.

Obama welcomed his counterparts recent discussions in Doha with Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani regarding Afghan-led peace and reconciliation.  President Karzai welcomed the March 25 handover of the Parwan detention facility to Afghan control, the White House said. 

Obama and Karzai committed that their teams would continue to keep dangerous detainees off the battlefield and work in partnership at the facility, consistent with Afghan sovereignty, the statement carried out.

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