Ban shook hands with Karzai for photographers before going into talks in the presidential palace soon after his arrival.

"He is really talking to the president about how to ensure UN coordination with the government of Afghanistan," UN spokesman Adrian Edwards told AFP.

The men are also due to meet in Rome on Tuesday at an international conference on rule of law and human rights in Afghanistan.

"This is part of touching base ahead of that," Edwards said. "The conference is about rule of law also but also ensuring international commitment remains solid."

Ban also met the commander of Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), US General Dan McNeill, and senior UN representatives. He was due to leave Afghanistan later Friday.