Obama to meet Afghan President Karzai on Friday

President Barack Obama is slated to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday, the White House said in a statement, a meeting that comes as the United States tries to determine how quickly to draw down troops in Afghanistan after more than a dozen years of war.

In next year, the Afghan army and police will take over the country’s security as US combat forces withdraw. The two countries are trying to hammer out a deal on the nature of any US troop presence after next year.

“President Obama looks forward to welcoming the Afghan delegation to Washington, and discussing our continued transition in Afghanistan, and our shared vision of an enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan,” the White House said.