U.S. Vice President Biden makes unannounced trip to Afghanistan

U.S. Vice President Biden makes unannounced trip to Afghanistan

2011-01-11 04:55:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived on a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Monday night to evaluate progress towards a withdrawal of U.S. troops, the White House said.

During his first trip to Afghanistan as vice president, Biden is scheduled to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, greet members of the U.S. military and civilian personnel and tour an Afghan National Army Training Center.

"The primary purpose of the trip is to assess progress toward the transition to Afghan-led security beginning in 2011, and to demonstrate our commitment to a long-term partnership with Afghanistan," a White House official said.

Biden arrived at Kabul International Airport at 7.24 p.m. local time and was 
greeted on the tarmac by U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, Gen. David Petraeus and three Afghan officials.

His trip was unannounced due to security concerns, although officials said that Karzai was informed of the visit last week. Biden last visited the country in January 2009 as Vice President-elect.

After Biden's arrival, the vice president met with Petraeus and Eikenberry at the U.S. embassy in Kabul for almost two hours. Besides a photo opportunity, there was no news or announcements relating to Afghanistan.

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