Obama to host new Afghan leaders at White House on March 24
WASHINGTON (AP) — Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah are to visit the White House next month, and Ghani has accepted an invitation to speak to a joint meeting of Congress at a time when the Obama administration is weighing whether to slow the pace of U.S. troop withdrawals from the country.
The White House said Friday that Ghani and Abdullah will visit March 24.
It's the leaders' first visit since they formed a unity government after an election to replace former President Hamid Karzai, whose relations with the U.S. grew increasingly strained. Abdullah's post is similar to that of a prime minister.
FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2015 file-pool photo, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. President Obama will host the leaders of Afghanistan's new unity government for their first White House visit next month. The White House says Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and chief executive Abdullah Abdullah will visit March 24. Abdullah's post is similar to a prime minister. The meeting comes as the White House considers slowing its military exit from Afghanistan by keeping a larger-than-planned troop presence this year. (AP Photos/Jonathan Ernst, File-Pool)
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that during a working lunch the leaders will discuss security, economic development and reconciliation efforts between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Ghani will also meet with Secretary of State John Kerry at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.
Ghani will address Congress on March 25. Former President Hamid Karzai appeared before a joint meeting of Congress on June 15, 2004.
"Afghanistan is an important friend and ally to the United States," said House Speaker John Boehner, who invited Ghani to speak. "This joint address presents an important opportunity to hear from the newly-elected president on how the United States can continue to work together to promote our shared goals and reaffirms our commitment to the Afghan people."
Ghani's appearance is not expected to spur the controversy Boehner has faced since inviting Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to Congress next Tuesday. Boehner invited Netanyahu without consulting with the White House or Democratic leaders in Congress, and some Democrats plan to skip the speech. The Israeli leader argues that Iran is not negotiating with the U.S. and its partners in good faith to reach an agreement to curb its nuclear program and is actively working to develop nuclear weapons.
White House spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said both Boehner's office and the Afghan government consulted with the Obama administration in arranging Ghani's speech.
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Associated Press Writer Josh Lederman at the White House contributed to this report.
FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2015 file photo, Afghanistan's chief executive Abdullah Abdullah is seen at the Sapidar Palace, in Kabul, Afghanistan. President Obama will host the leaders of Afghanistan's new unity government for their first White House visit next month. The White House says Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and chief executive Abdullah Abdullah will visit March 24. Abdullah's post is similar to a prime minister. The meeting comes as the White House considers slowing its military exit from Afghanistan by keeping a larger-than-planned troop presence this year. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini, File)
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