Kerry Meets With Afghan NGOs, Businesswomen, Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (right) met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (middle) and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham in Kabul on March 25.

KABUL -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has met in Kabul with representatives of Afghan nongovernmental organizations, including Afghan businesswomen.

At their March 26 meeting at the U.S. Embassy, the women told Kerry about their security concerns regarding the planned withdrawal of most foreign forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

Kerry talked separately with several female students from the American University in Kabul.

He also held discussions with civic leaders and government officials, including the chairman of the country’s Central Elections Commission.

Regarding Afghanistan’s elections next year, Kerry told them that "you’re engaged in a remarkable effort and the whole world is watching."

Earlier, Kerry met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai for a second day to continue discussions about the security situation in Afghanistan.

With additional reporting by AP