Afghan President Karzai Begins Japan Trip

Hamid Karzai will meet with the Japanese emperor and prime minister.

KABUL -- Aghan President Hamid Karzai today begins a five-day visit to Japan, one of the biggest donors to his country.

Last year, Japan pledged up to $5 billion in aid to Afghanistan over five years.

But Japanese officials have said the aid depends on whether the security situation allows international projects to go forward and is also contingent on guarantees the assistance will not be lost to graft.

Karzai, who is taking along his foreign and economics ministers, will meet Prime Minister Naoto Kan and others after an audience with Emperor Akihito on June 17.

compiled from agency reports