Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai will travel to Russia this week to bolster relations with his nation's former enemy, the government announced Monday. During the two-day trip, being made at the invitation of Russia President Dmitry Medvedev, the two leaders will discuss economic issues, the statement said. They also will likely discuss Moscow's concern about the flow of drugs into Russia and an uptick in Taliban activity in northern Afghanistan.

Separately, Nato reported that a service member died Monday in a roadside bomb attack in southern Afghanistan, raising the number killed so far this month to 19, including at least 14 Americans. Last month, drug-control agencies from Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan agreed to step up co-operation to stop the flow of drugs through Afghan borders.

Copyright Associated Press, 2011