Kabul:
US Vice President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Monday to assess progress toward the key objective of handing over security from international forces to Afghans.
The White House said Biden, who was last in Afghanistan in January 2009, was to meet with President Hamid Karzai as well as US troops.
On his arrival the Vice President was greeted by US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, as well as NATO's top commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus.
The US is to begin withdrawing combat forces from Afghanistan in July, and questions remain about the ability of the country's security forces to take up the fight in the face of a virulent insurgency.
NATO hopes Afghan forces will assume full responsibility for security by 2014.
Just a month ago, US President Barack Obama came to Afghanistan telling US forces in the country they were making progress in their mission to defeat "terrorism".
American troops comprise the bulk of the 140-thousand-strong NATO force that has been battling the Taliban.
NATO and US officials have said they are making gains in quelling the fierce insurgency, but the Taliban has repeatedly shown its ability to regroup, despite constant offensives by the international coalition, and to carry out attacks across Afghanistan seemingly at will.
Last year was the deadliest for NATO forces in the country, with over 700 troops killed.
In an end-of-year review of the US strategy in Afghanistan, the Obama administration said the US had made advances in its push against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan - the insurgents' traditional stronghold - but acknowledged that "gains remain fragile and reversible."
The vice president is reported to be heading to Islamabad this week to deliver a message that the US will send more help to Pakistan, which US and Afghan officials see as a key partner in routing the Taliban.
Biden will also visit US troops and civilian personnel and tour an Afghan Army training centre.
The White House said Biden, who was last in Afghanistan in January 2009, was to meet with President Hamid Karzai as well as US troops.
On his arrival the Vice President was greeted by US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, as well as NATO's top commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus.
The US is to begin withdrawing combat forces from Afghanistan in July, and questions remain about the ability of the country's security forces to take up the fight in the face of a virulent insurgency.
NATO hopes Afghan forces will assume full responsibility for security by 2014.
Just a month ago, US President Barack Obama came to Afghanistan telling US forces in the country they were making progress in their mission to defeat "terrorism".
American troops comprise the bulk of the 140-thousand-strong NATO force that has been battling the Taliban.
NATO and US officials have said they are making gains in quelling the fierce insurgency, but the Taliban has repeatedly shown its ability to regroup, despite constant offensives by the international coalition, and to carry out attacks across Afghanistan seemingly at will.
Last year was the deadliest for NATO forces in the country, with over 700 troops killed.
In an end-of-year review of the US strategy in Afghanistan, the Obama administration said the US had made advances in its push against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan - the insurgents' traditional stronghold - but acknowledged that "gains remain fragile and reversible."
The vice president is reported to be heading to Islamabad this week to deliver a message that the US will send more help to Pakistan, which US and Afghan officials see as a key partner in routing the Taliban.
Biden will also visit US troops and civilian personnel and tour an Afghan Army training centre.
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