Presidential Palace, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, strongly condemns the killing this afternoon of Mullah Abdul Fayaz, Head of the Ulemas Council of Kandahar, who was shot in his office in Kandahar.

In his reaction to the news, the President said: “I am deeply disturbed by this crime, which is an attack on Islam and on the Ulemas. I strongly condemn the killing of Mullah Abdul Fayaz, who was a person devoted to Islam and at the service of the Afghan people”.

The President urged the relevant authorities to investigate the crime and to bring the culprits to justice as soon as possible. The President also presents his heartfelt condolences to the family of Mullah Abdul Fayaz.

Since the fall of the Taliban regime in December 2001, the United States and Afghanistan have made great progress in the pursuit of common strategic objectives. Together we have disrupted international terrorist networks and worked to ensure that Afghanistan will never again be a safe haven for terrorists. The United States has supported the Afghan people as they have established a moderate, representative government. During this time, the U.S. Government and the American people have demonstrated a commitment to an Afghanistan that is democratic, free, and able to provide for its own security.

Presidential Palace, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, left today on a four-day visit for the United States. During his trip the President will visit Boston, Washington DC and Nebraska.

In Boston, the President will deliver a Commencement speech to the Boston University Class of 2005 and will receive an honorary doctorate.

In Washington, The President will meet with H.E. George W. Bush, President of the USA to discuss bilateral issues between the two countries. The President will also meet with Other Senior US officials including H.E. Dick Chenney, Vice President of the US, H.E. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, H.E. Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, H.E. Carlos Gutierrez, Secretary of Commerce, H.E. John Snow, Secretary of the Treasury.

The President will hold meetings with the leadership of the Senate of the US and the House of Representative of the US Congress.

The President will also meet with Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank.

In Nebraska, the President will visit the University of Nebraska and will receive an Honorary Doctorate. The President will also visit an agriculture farm to discuss Afghanistan’s need to develop its agriculture sector.

During his visit, the President will attend several events which includes a reception for the President hosted by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Smithsonian Institute. The US Department of Homeland Security will present Afghan historical artifacts recovered by the US customs to the President. The President will also give a speech to the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, at John Hopkins University

Presidential Palace, Kabul - The Office of the Spokesperson to the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan expresses displeasure at hearing the acknowledgement by the Newsweek Magazine of factual error in their reporting of the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran by US soldiers in the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Presidential Palace, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is deeply saddened by the news of an ammunition blast yesterday in the village of Pajga, Baghlan Province, killing at least 28 people and injuring about 70 others.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is saddened to hear the recent news of civilian casualties from some provinces of Afghanistan , and expresses concern about the occurrence in recent weeks of civilian deaths as a result of counter-terrorist operations of the international coalition forces in Afghanistan .