United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed hope that the Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s upcoming visit to Pakistan will help improve relations between the two countries.

A press release issued by the Afghan President’s office in Kabul last night said the UN Secretary General spoke to President Karzai on phone last evening. The Afghan President briefed him on his visit to Pakistan. The press release adds that the Afghan President expressed his desire to improve relations with Pakistan.

The two leaders also discussed the presidential election in Afghanistan to be held next year. According to the release, the UN Secretary General invited the Afghan President to the UN General Assembly in New York next month