Afghan president to visit U.S. as Taliban tension flares - Washington Times

A senior U.S. official confirmed to The Washington Times that the administration is expecting Mr. Ghani “to visit soon,” but refrained from setting a time frame for the visit.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the Afghan president’s travel agenda. The Embassy of Afghanistan did not immediately return a request for confirmation of Mr. Ghani’s travel plans.

This will be Mr. Ghani’s first trip to the United States following his Sept. 29 inauguration, which sparked an increase in Taliban attacks. The visit is significant because Mr. Ghani, who pledged during his campaign to fight corruption in return for Western funds and military backing, recently suggested during a “60 Minutes” interview that President Obama review his timeline for pulling troops out of Afghanistan.

“Deadlines concentrate the mind. But deadlines should not be dogmas,” Mr. Ghani said during the Jan. 4 interview. “If both parties or, in this case, multiple partners, have done their best to achieve the objectives and progress is very real, then there should be willingness to re-examine a deadline.”
Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told Reuters on Jan. 5 that the drawdown plan remains in effect and that there have been no changes to its timeline.  Read More on Afghan President to visit  US

Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan president: Obama should ‘re-examine’ withdrawal