Karzai arrives to US red carpet after rocky ties‎

In a sign of the US effort, Richard Holbrooke -- the envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan who has had particularly tense ties with Karzai -- personally greeted the Afghan leader as he landed early Monday at Andrews Air Force Base.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will welcome Karzai with a dinner at Blair House, the official guesthouse for state guests across from the White House. - Karzai arrives to US red carpet after rocky ties‎

Obama makes personal diplomacy part of Afghan strategy - washingtonpost