U.S. President Bush to visit Afghanistan

U.S. President Bush to visit Afghanistan

U.S. President George W. Bush planned to visit Afghanistan on Wednesday and meet with President Hamid Karzai, an Afghan official said.

The official, who was familiar with Karzai's schedule but did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the two leaders would have lunch and hold a joint press conference.

U.S. Embassy officials in Kabul on Wednesday declined to comment on whether Bush would visit Afghanistan later in the day.

The U.S. president departed Washington on Tuesday on a trip to South Asia, with stops scheduled in India and Pakistan, amid speculation he would make an unannounced stop in Afghanistan. He was to arrive in India late Wednesday, reports the AP.

I.L.