President phones Sri Lankan counterpart

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Hamid Karzai, who cancelled a three-day visit to Colombo due to a deadly attack on Afghan troops in eastern Kunar province, telephoned his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Karzai said he had cancelled the planned visit to Sri Lanka today, given the prevailing situation in the country, particularly after the killing of 20 Afghan soldiers in Ghaziabad district of the province.

A statement from the Presidential Palace said the presidents agreed the foreign ministries in Kabul and Colombo would coordinate fresh dates for the trip.

pr/mud