Kabul- President Hamid Karzai left for Washington Monday and a meeting with his US and Pakistani counterparts to discuss a new strategy in the fight against Taliban militants in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, the presidential palace said.

The Afghan leader was scheduled to hold a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday morning, Karzai's office said in a statement, adding that he would then attend another meeting with US President Barack Obama and Zardari Wednesday afternoon.

In his first face-to-face meeting with the two Asian leaders since taking office in January, Obama was expected to discuss the details of his administration's new strategy, which is aimed at defeating al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in their two countries.

Both Islamic leaders have been severely criticized by the White House for their anti-insurgency efforts. Karzai has been under fire by Obama's team for his inability to curb government corruption in Afghanistan while the new US administration has also expressed concerns about Zardari's civilian government making concessions to the Taliban, including a recent peace agreement with militants that included implementing Islamic law in an area of north-western Pakistan.

During his visit, Karzai was also scheduled to meet other US officials, including House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the presidential palace statement said, adding that the Afghan president would hold a one-on-one meeting with Zardari Friday.

Karzai is being accompanied by Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta, Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar. (dpa)