Boehner Invites Afghan President To Address Congress

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) is inviting the president of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, to address a joint meeting of Congress.

“Afghanistan is an important friend and ally to the United States. Americans and Afghans have worked together for years on a shared mission of bringing peace and security to the region,” Boehner said in a statement Friday.

Ghani is invited to speak to Congress on March 25, several weeks after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak to a joint meeting.

“This address presents an important opportunity to hear from the newly-elected President on how the United States can continue to work together to promote our shared goals and reaffirms our commitment to the Afghan people,” Boehner added. “We look forward to welcoming President Ghani to the United States Capitol.”

Ghani would be the second Afghan president to address the U.S. Congress. President Hamid Karzai addressed a joint meeting in 2004.