President Hamid Karzai Wednesday flew to Ishqabad, the capital of Turkmenistan, to attend the world festival for the Persian new year Nowruz, the presidential palace said.
Karzai went with a high-ranking Afghan delegation to participate in the yearly International Nowruz Festival called "Nowruz - celebration of peace and humanity", the palace said in a statement.
During the two-day visit to Turkmenistan, Karzai will also meet and discuss development of the region with the presidents of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan "and many other countries", according to the palace.
Karzai is accompanied by National Security Advisor Dr. Rangin Spanta, Minister of Public Affairs Najibullah Ozhan, Presidential Adviser in International Relations Dr. Mohammad Yahya Marufi, Presidential Adviser in Religious Affairs Mawlavi Jorah Taheri, Presidential Deputy Chief of Staff Homaira Lodin Etmadi and Presidential spokesperson Aimal Faizi.
The International Nowruz Festival is held every year in a different city. Last year it was held in the capital of Iran, Tehran.