Kerry and Karzai clear air in Kabul talks

Mr Kerry was meeting Mr Karzai, civic leaders and others to discuss continued assistance to the country.

Mr Karzai has infuriated the US by accusing it of colluding with Taliban insurgents to keep Afghanistan weak even as the Obama administration presses ahead with plans to hand security responsibility to Afghan forces and end Nato’s combat mission by the end of next year.

After a private meeting, the two held a news conference at the presidential palace in Kabul. During it Mr Karzai confronted questions about his remarks earlier this month in which he accused the Taliban of undertaking attacks “in service of America”.

Numerous Press reports stated he was suggesting the US and the Taliban were colluding, but he rejected that interpretation at the news conference.

“I never used the word ‘collusion’ between the Taliban and the US. Those were the (words) picked up by the media,” he said.

Mr Kerry also referred to the comments. “I am confident the president absolutely does not believe that the United States has any interest except to see the Taliban come to the table to make peace.”

Mr Kerry said they were both “on the same page” regarding peace talks with the Taliban.

Earlier the US military ceded control of its last detention facility in Afghanistan, a year after the two sides initially agreed on the transfer.

Mr Karzai demanded control of the Parwan facility, located near the US-run Bagram military base north of Kabul, as a matter of national sovereignty.

Transfer of control of the prison had been repeatedly delayed over the past year, in part owing to US concerns that inmates dangerous to coalition forces might be released. “As of today, we don’t have prisoners (in Afghanistan). Whatever is occurring here is under the control of the Afghan people,” Mr Kerry said.