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Obama on first Afghanistan visit Obama on first Afghanistan visit
(10 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is in Afghanistan on his first visit to the country since taking office.US President Barack Obama is in Afghanistan on his first visit to the country since taking office.
Addressing US soldiers at Bagram air base, he said they were there to help Afghans "forge a hard-won peace", and "keep America safe and secure".Addressing US soldiers at Bagram air base, he said they were there to help Afghans "forge a hard-won peace", and "keep America safe and secure".
He earlier met Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, and invited him to the US in May for talks.He earlier met Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, and invited him to the US in May for talks.
The US president said he wanted to see progress continue on Afghan efforts to tackle corruption and drug-trafficking.The US president said he wanted to see progress continue on Afghan efforts to tackle corruption and drug-trafficking.
In December, he ordered the deployment of an extra 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan.In December, he ordered the deployment of an extra 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan.
Only a few thousand of the extra forces have arrived so far, with most expected to be in place by the summer. At a joint press conference in the heavily-guarded presidential palace, Mr Karzai thanked Mr Obama for US support and said he hoped the partnership would continue. Only a few thousand of the extra forces have arrived so far, with most expected to be in place by the summer. At a joint press conference in the heavily guarded presidential palace, Mr Karzai thanked Mr Obama for US support and said he hoped the partnership would continue.
AT THE SCENE Lyse Doucet, BBC News, Kabul Mr Obama came here as senator in 2008, when he was very critical of the Afghan leadership. When he came into the White House, the big question was, when would he feel the moment was right to make his second visit?AT THE SCENE Lyse Doucet, BBC News, Kabul Mr Obama came here as senator in 2008, when he was very critical of the Afghan leadership. When he came into the White House, the big question was, when would he feel the moment was right to make his second visit?
President Hamid Karzai has been waiting since his controversial re-election last year for an invitation to visit the White House. Only yesterday, I heard his aides complaining about the president not being asked, and asking if this cast some shadow over the relationship.President Hamid Karzai has been waiting since his controversial re-election last year for an invitation to visit the White House. Only yesterday, I heard his aides complaining about the president not being asked, and asking if this cast some shadow over the relationship.
So there is no mistaking the important symbolism of a visit that is going to send a strong message of support for Mr Karzai.So there is no mistaking the important symbolism of a visit that is going to send a strong message of support for Mr Karzai.
Mr Obama made it clear he was here to back Mr Karzai and the Afghan people, but also to thank the tens of thousands of US troops in Afghanistan for their sacrifices made. Send us your commentsMr Obama made it clear he was here to back Mr Karzai and the Afghan people, but also to thank the tens of thousands of US troops in Afghanistan for their sacrifices made. Send us your comments
"The American people are encouraged by the progress that's been made," Mr Obama said, adding he hoped to see more improvement on governance, anti-corruption efforts and judicial process."The American people are encouraged by the progress that's been made," Mr Obama said, adding he hoped to see more improvement on governance, anti-corruption efforts and judicial process.
He also thanked US troops - who make up the majority of the Nato-led coalition force in Afghanistan - for their efforts.
"They make tremendous sacrifices far away from home, and I want to make sure they know how proud their commander-in-chief is of them," he said.
The pair also held private talks, as well as meetings involving Afghan cabinet ministers and senior Obama administration officials.The pair also held private talks, as well as meetings involving Afghan cabinet ministers and senior Obama administration officials.
The White House confirmed that the Afghan president would visit Washington on 12 May.The White House confirmed that the Afghan president would visit Washington on 12 May.
For security reasons Mr Obama's trip - expected to last only a few hours - was not announced beforehand and Mr Karzai was given just an hour's notice.For security reasons Mr Obama's trip - expected to last only a few hours - was not announced beforehand and Mr Karzai was given just an hour's notice.
But while the trip is expected to be brief, it will be high on symbolism, the BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says.But while the trip is expected to be brief, it will be high on symbolism, the BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says.
'Thank you''Thank you'
Speaking to a large gathering of US soldiers at Bagram air base, he said: "There is no visit that I consider more important than this visit I am making now.Speaking to a large gathering of US soldiers at Bagram air base, he said: "There is no visit that I consider more important than this visit I am making now.
"My main job here today is to say thank you on behalf of the entire American people.""My main job here today is to say thank you on behalf of the entire American people."
US troops make up the majority of the Nato-led coalition force in Afghanistan.
"We did not choose this war," Mr Obama said. "This was not an act of America wanting to expand its influence... We were attacked viciously on 9/11."
Al-Qaeda militants and their Taliban allies were still strong in the region and had to be defeated, he said.
"I'm confident all of you here are going to get the job done in Afghanistan," he told the crowd, who applauded and whooped.
America's military operation would be backed by a civilian effort, he promised.
"Together with our partners, we will prevail," he said.
This is Mr Obama's first visit in the 14 months since he took office, during which time he has almost doubled American forces in Afghanistan.This is Mr Obama's first visit in the 14 months since he took office, during which time he has almost doubled American forces in Afghanistan.
US troops are now leading a massive military operation to push Taliban militants from their stronghold in the south of the country.US troops are now leading a massive military operation to push Taliban militants from their stronghold in the south of the country.
The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington says Mr Obama's visit comes at a time when he has momentum domestically because he has just signed a new healthcare reform bill into law and agreed a new nuclear arms reduction treaty with Moscow.The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington says Mr Obama's visit comes at a time when he has momentum domestically because he has just signed a new healthcare reform bill into law and agreed a new nuclear arms reduction treaty with Moscow.
The White House clearly wanted to build on that momentum and say that this is a president who can deal with more than one big issue at once, our correspondent says.The White House clearly wanted to build on that momentum and say that this is a president who can deal with more than one big issue at once, our correspondent says.
Also, there is an impression that US efforts in Afghanistan may be turning a corner, he adds, prompting a cautious sense of optimism.Also, there is an impression that US efforts in Afghanistan may be turning a corner, he adds, prompting a cautious sense of optimism.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Mr Obama wanted to get an "on the ground update" about the eight-year-old war from Gen Stanley McChrystal, commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan.White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Mr Obama wanted to get an "on the ground update" about the eight-year-old war from Gen Stanley McChrystal, commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan.
The president was met on arrival at Bagram air base by Gen McChrystal and the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry.The president was met on arrival at Bagram air base by Gen McChrystal and the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry.
Strained relationsStrained relations
Mr Obama travelled to Afghanistan during his campaign for the 2008 presidential election, while still a senator, but this is his first visit to the country since becoming the US commander-in-chief in January 2009.Mr Obama travelled to Afghanistan during his campaign for the 2008 presidential election, while still a senator, but this is his first visit to the country since becoming the US commander-in-chief in January 2009.
There were strained relations between the White House and the Karzai government last year over the disputed Afghan elections.There were strained relations between the White House and the Karzai government last year over the disputed Afghan elections.
US national security adviser Gen James Jones told reporters on Air Force One that Mr Obama hoped to help Mr Karzai understand that "in this second term that there are certain things he has to do as the president of his country to battle the things that have not been paid attention to almost since day one".US national security adviser Gen James Jones told reporters on Air Force One that Mr Obama hoped to help Mr Karzai understand that "in this second term that there are certain things he has to do as the president of his country to battle the things that have not been paid attention to almost since day one".
He said Mr Obama would urge Mr Karzai to make progress on certain benchmarks.He said Mr Obama would urge Mr Karzai to make progress on certain benchmarks.
"That is things like... a merit-based system for appointment of key government officials, battling corruption, taking the fight to the narco-traffickers, which fuels, provides a lot of the economic engine for the insurgents," he said."That is things like... a merit-based system for appointment of key government officials, battling corruption, taking the fight to the narco-traffickers, which fuels, provides a lot of the economic engine for the insurgents," he said.
Mr Obama paid a similar unannounced visit to Iraq, where US forces are also involved in a long-running conflict, last year.Mr Obama paid a similar unannounced visit to Iraq, where US forces are also involved in a long-running conflict, last year.