By politics.co.uk staff

David Cameron barely had time to find his way around the Chequers retreat before Hamid Karzai visited today.

The Afghan president stopped off on his way back from Washington so the two men could engage in talks before the Kabul conference on June 20th.

“The prime minister was delighted to invite President Karzai to Chequers, the first formal visit by an international leader since the election,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.

“They discussed President Karzai’s very successful visit to Washington, and the prospects for the peace jirga in Afghanistan at the end of May. Both the President and prime minister agreed that the relationship between Afghanistan and Britain should be further strengthened.

“The President and the prime minister expressed their admiration for the courage and skill of the British military in Afghanistan, and the sacrifices that British forces have made.”

The early meeting reinforced the impression that Afghanistan is right at the top of the government’s foreign policy agenda, complimenting a conversation between foreign secretary William Hague and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in Washington yesterday.

“The US is deeply appreciative of the British contribution in Afghanistan and we honour the sacrifices of the British service members who serve their country with such distinction overseas,” Ms Clinton said.