Afghanistan’s government has approved a new blueprint to build peace in Afghanistan over the next five years and meet the demands of its war-weary people for a better life, officials said today.

President Hamid Karzai today left for a visit to Britain and Italy to discuss Afghanistan’s economic development and other issues with the two important allies.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, en route to the United States for ceremonies commemorating last year’s September 11 attacks, today pledged to stay the course in fighting terrorism.