John Kerry to skip Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani's inauguration for Narendra Modi's luncheon

NEW YORK: US Secretary of State John Kerry would skip inauguration of new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on September 29 to attend the luncheon he and Vice President Joe Biden have organised for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kerry, who personally invested much of his time and energy in resolving the Afghan crisis after the presidential elections and visited Kabul several times to negotiate between the two candidates - Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah - was scheduled to travel to Afghanistan to be personally present at the swearing in ceremony of the new president.

However, given the importance that the Obama Administration attaches to the Modi Government and its efforts to strengthen relationship with India, the Secretary of State, it is learnt, decided not to travel to Kabul for the September 29 presidential inauguration.

Modi, who is currently in New York to attend the annual session of the UN General Assembly, would travel to Washington DC on September 29.

On the same day, US President Barack Obama will host a dinner for him.

After the formal Modi-Obama Summit at the White House on September 30, Biden and Kerry will host a lunch for the Prime Minister at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.