U.S. Defense Secretary Gates visit troops in Afghanistan

[News_Editor]

U.S. Defense Secretary Gates visit troops in Afghanistan

2011-03-07 23:35:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday arrived to Afghanistan in order to visit troops and meet with high ranking officials.

Gates was greeted by U.S. Army Gen. David Petreaus, Commander of the U.S. Forces Afghanistan, upon his arrival to Kabul. The Defense Secretary is in the troubled country to visit troops, meet with President Hamid Karzai and talk with NATO military leaders.

According to Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell, Gates' visit will focus on assessing the progress made toward transitioning security responsibility to Afghan forces which is expected to begin in July.

Gates will visit areas in regional commands South and East, where he will meet with troops and assess progress on the ground. The Defense Secretary has visited the region in an average of a trip each quarter.

"Frequent, regular visits provide him with good measuring sticks to determine how rapidly progress is being made," said Morrell. "The secretary has repeatedly said visiting forces in the field and getting their assessment of conditions is the most important part of his trips."

The Afghan government, led by President Karzai, has made significant progress in improving security conditions in former Taliban-controlled areas. This advance is part of efforts to prepare for the security transition to Afghan forces, set to start in July and conclude in 2014.

Gates will meet with Karzai in order to discuss such advances and assess the progress in the security conditions. The Afghan president is expected to announce which areas will be the first to transition later this month.

"More work remains to be done, however, before any decisions are made about withdrawing U.S. troops. This trip will inform decisions to be made in the coming weeks and months," added press secretary Morrell.

During his trip in Afghanistan, Gates will also meet with U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and the two top NATO commanders in Afghanistan, General Petraeus, International Security Assistance Force commander (ISAF), and Army Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, deputy ISAF commander.

Later this week, Secreraty Gates will travel to Stuttgart, Germany, for the U.S. Africa Command change of command from Army Gen. William Ward, who is retiring, to Army Gen. Carter Ham. He will also visit Belgium in order to meet with NATO officials.

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