"What Englishness can't do that Britishness can do is appeal unambiguously to people of different ethnic origins, " notes Janan Ganesh, political correspondent for The Economist.
Janan Dawar, an eyewitness who lives about 14km (nine miles) away from the checkpoint, said he had heard a huge explosion and had seen flames leap into the air.
Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai says there has been a greater sharing of intelligence between his country and China, and a joint U.S.-Chinese program to mentor junior Afghan diplomats.
Janan Mosazai, the Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, said Mr. Karzai was planning travel to Qatar at the invitation of the Gulf emirate, and he said the Taliban office would be a subject of discussion.