Kabul, Jan 7 : Afghan President Hamid Karzai Monday left for a three-day official visit to the US where he will meet his American counterpart Barack Obama and discuss key issues including a bilateral security agreement, the Presidential Palace said.

The discussions would focus on security, economic and political transition in Afghanistan, equipping and strengthening of Afghan security forces, and the peace process, Xinhua reported.

Talks between Washington and Kabul on the bilateral security agreement formally began in Kabul Nov 15, 2012.

The agreement, if signed, would guarantee the presence of US military forces for at least several years in Afghanistan, a contentious issue that has been opposed by some circles at home and neighbouring states.

Around 100,000 NATO-led troops with over 60,000 Americans are at present stationed in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban-linked militancy.

The president will Tuesday visit Asadullah Khalid, director of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the US.

Khalid was wounded in a suicide bombing carried out by a man disguised as a Taliban peace messenger Dec 6 last year.(IANS)