Obama talks to Karzai, reiterates support for Afghanistan

US President Barack Obama held talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai to discuss the recent developments in the country and reiterated his strong support for Afghan sovereignty, the White House said.

Obama, who held a video conference with the Afghan President yesterday, agreed to take additional concrete steps to implement the Strategic Partnership Agreement, including launching of the US-Afghan Bilateral Commission in coming weeks and beginning negotiations on a Bilateral Security Agreement, the White House said.

The call was a part of their regular consultations, the White House said adding that the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including efforts to stem insider attacks on US, coalition, and Afghan forces.

Obama and Karzai also discussed the importance of continuing to encourage restraint and non-violence in reaction to inflammatory materials and continued implementation of the US-Afghan Strategic Partnership Agreement.

"The President expressed his condolences and remembrances on the eve of the one-year anniversary of former Afghan President Rabbani's assassination, and the two leaders agreed to continue their work together in support of an Afghan-led reconciliation process," the White House said.