Kerry, Karzai make show of unity in surprise Kabul visit
- 11 years ago
A show of unity between the U.S. and Afghanistan.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during an unannounced visit to Afghanistan Monday.
The meeting comes after weeks of heightened tensions between the two countries.
Earlier this month, Karzai accused Washington of holding peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar without him, adding the Taliban were colluding with America to keep foreign troops in the country.
But following Monday's private meeting with Kerry, Karzai rejected that interpretation of his comments.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI SAYING:
"Now the media, took that to say that I said there is a 'collusion'. I never used the word 'collusion' between the Taliban and the U.S. Those were not my words. Those were the (words) picked up by the media."
Kerry also referenced Karzai's earlier comments.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SAYING:
"
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during an unannounced visit to Afghanistan Monday.
The meeting comes after weeks of heightened tensions between the two countries.
Earlier this month, Karzai accused Washington of holding peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar without him, adding the Taliban were colluding with America to keep foreign troops in the country.
But following Monday's private meeting with Kerry, Karzai rejected that interpretation of his comments.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI SAYING:
"Now the media, took that to say that I said there is a 'collusion'. I never used the word 'collusion' between the Taliban and the U.S. Those were not my words. Those were the (words) picked up by the media."
Kerry also referenced Karzai's earlier comments.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SAYING:
"