President Karzai Meets British Defense Secretary

President Hamid Karzai met Sunday with the visiting British Defense Secretary, Bob Ainsworth in Kabul to discuss different areas of bilateral cooperation.
Issues of discussion in the meeting held in Presidential Palace included the situation in Afghanistan and the region, bilateral relations, counterterrorism and counter narcotics as well as UK’s military presence, in particular in the southern province of Helmand, where over eight thousand British troops are battling the insurgents.
Defense Minister Ainsworth reaffirmed his country’s continued commitment in helping Afghanistan ensure a better security and have an equipped National Army.
Thanking UK for its contributions to the people of Afghanistan, President Karzai stated that economic development and public confidence was the key to a victory against terrorism.