Afghan president leaves for Kyrgyzstan to attend SCO summit

Afghan President Hamid Karzai left Kabul for Bishkek on Thursday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan, said a statement issued here by Arg, the Afghan Presidential Palace.

"President Hamid Karzai, leading a high-level delegation, left this morning on a two-day trip to Bishkek to attend the 13th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan," the statement said.

The Afghan leader "is expected to deliver a speech and to hold separate bilateral meetings with a number of world leaders including the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia and Iran to discuss issues of mutual interest with focus on enhanced regional cooperation and the common security threats the region is facing," it added.

Karzai is accompanied on his trip by Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Zulmai Rasoul, National Security Advisor Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Deputy Foreign Minister Irshad Ahmadi and chief presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi, the statement said.