Around the World: United States

US envoy visits Kabul

The US special representative for Afghanistan has flown to Kabul for talks with Afghan and US officials, the US military said yesterday, the day after NATO agreed to boost troop numbers ahead of key presidential elections.

Richard Holbrooke, whose mandate also covers Pakistan, is making his second visit in his new role, at a time when violence in Afghanistan has reached its highest level since the US-led overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.