ANKARA (A.A) - 03.04.2002 - Afghanistan's interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai's visit, which was postponed due to the earthquake in his country, is starting on Thursday.
During his two-day visit, Karzai will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.
Kharzai will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, Public Health Minister Dr.Suhaila Saddiqi, Higher Education Minister Mohammad Sharif Faez and Information and Culture Minister Said Raheen Makhdoom.
During his contacts, Karzai will discuss a number of issues including command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the Afghan army, Turkey's contributions to Afghan economy's restructuring, educational and humanitarian aid.
Karzai is also expected to meet with 20 Afghan diplomats who are under training in Ankara.
Karzai is 44 years old and he is of Pashtu origin. He was appointed as the interim prime minister last December at an Afghan conference of the U.N. in Germany's Bonn city.
Karzai supported the U.S. bombardment against Taliban forces from the beginning. After attending primary and middle school in Kabul, he went to India and attended Simla University. He worked as the operation chief in National Afghan Front in 1982.
Karzai is known for his support for toppled King Zahir Sah and he is respected in the Northern Alliance for his fight during the Soviet invasion. He stayed in exile in Peshewar, a border city of Pakistan and he returned to Kabul after Necibullah administration was toppled. Later he became deputy foreign minister.
When Karzai came to power in 1996, he displayed cooperation with Taliban militia who are of Pashtu origin. However, his stance changed against Taliban when his father Abdul Ehad Karzai was killed in 1999. Noone claimed responsibility of the murder but Karzai believed that his father was killed by Taliban.
After Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, Karzai had a meeting with a number of Afghan commanders and tribe chiefs in his house in Keta. He secretly passed to his country when the United States started an operation against Afghanistan in October 7. He started looking for support to organize a rebellion against Taliban. Taliban forces tried to catch him. Karzai was saved by U.S. helicopters when he was cornered by Taliban's forces and he was brought to a safe place in Pakistan.
He learned English when he stayed in Pakistan and he is fluent in Urdu. After he became prime minister, Karzai was chosen as one of the best dressed politicians by many fashion designers.