Afghan President Ghani to visit US on Saturday

KABUL, Afghanistan

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will visit the U.S. on Saturday as Afghanistan is at a critical crossroads with upcoming presidential elections and a fragile peace process aimed at ending the decades-old war in the country.

Local Tolo News reported Friday that Ghani will lead a 13-member delegation to the U.S. and hold talks with his counterpart Donald Trump on Monday.

Officials close to the president were not available for comments, but a well-placed source in the government told Anadolu Agency that the Afghan president has been invited by Washington for the visit.

Amid escalating violence across Afghanistan on the heels of a proposed peace agreement in principle between the U.S and Taliban, Ghani on Thursday lashed out at the insurgents.

“Seeking peace with this group (Taliban) which is still pursuing the killing of innocent people is meaningless,” Ghani said.

The Taliban have also warned Afghans against participating in the Sept. 28 presidential elections.

A peace deal agreed in principle between the Taliban and U.S. officials, but is pending approval from Trump, will see the withdrawal of 5,000 American troops in 135 days. The Afghan government was not consulted in talks for the deal.

Some observers feel this withdrawal will leave a vacuum for the Taliban and other terror groups to run amok in the country which has remained embroiled in conflict for much of the last 40 years.