Afghan president lashes out at U.S., straining Hagel visit

President Hamid Karzai accuses Washington of colluding with the Taliban to foment violence, hours before meeting with the new U.S. secretary of Defense.

KABUL, Afghanistan — The often-volatile U.S. relationship with Afghan President Hamid Karzai grew increasingly strained Sunday as Karzai accused the United States and Taliban insurgents of having a secret understanding to foment violence as a pretext to keep foreign troops in Afghanistan.