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Obama on first Afghanistan visit Obama on first Afghanistan visit
(10 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has arrived in Afghanistan on his first visit to the country since taking office.US President Barack Obama has arrived in Afghanistan on his first visit to the country since taking office.
During his brief trip, he is expected to press Afghan President Hamid Karzai to do more to tackle corruption and drugs trafficking, officials say.During his brief trip, he is expected to press Afghan President Hamid Karzai to do more to tackle corruption and drugs trafficking, officials say.
He is also due to address US forces based in Afghanistan and US officials.He is also due to address US forces based in Afghanistan and US officials.
In December, Mr Obama ordered the deployment of an extra 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan and set a date of mid-2011 to begin troop withdrawal.In December, Mr Obama ordered the deployment of an extra 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan and set a date of mid-2011 to begin troop withdrawal.
Only a few thousand of the extra forces have arrived so far, with most expected to be in place by the summer.Only a few thousand of the extra forces have arrived so far, with most expected to be in place by the summer.
ANALYSIS Lyse Doucet, BBC News, Kabul This is Mr Obama's first visit as president. He 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?ANALYSIS Lyse Doucet, BBC News, Kabul This is Mr Obama's first visit as president. He 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?
He comes here at a time when some real questions are being asked at the presidential palace. 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 why the president had not been asked, and asking if this cast some shadow over the relationship.He comes here at a time when some real questions are being asked at the presidential palace. 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 why the president had not been asked, and asking if this cast some shadow over the relationship.
We do not know yet what the substance of today's conversations was but I am quite sure he had a very strong message, not just of support but also an understanding of what the US expects to happen in Afghanistan now that an extra surge of US troops and more money have been committed to this country.We do not know yet what the substance of today's conversations was but I am quite sure he had a very strong message, not just of support but also an understanding of what the US expects to happen in Afghanistan now that an extra surge of US troops and more money have been committed to this country.
The BBC's Will Grant in Washington says that for security reasons the trip - expected to last only a few hours - was not announced in advance. Mr Karzai reportedly only learnt about it an hour beforehand.The BBC's Will Grant in Washington says that for security reasons the trip - expected to last only a few hours - was not announced in advance. Mr Karzai reportedly only learnt about it an hour beforehand.
US officials say Mr Obama is in Kabul to discuss benchmarks with Mr Karzai and other senior government figures.US officials say Mr Obama is in Kabul to discuss benchmarks with Mr Karzai and other senior government figures.
The US president remains unhappy with direction of the Karzai government and Washington wants to make its frustration known, our correspondent adds.The US president remains unhappy with direction of the Karzai government and Washington wants to make its frustration known, our correspondent adds.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs also 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, near Kabul, by Gen McChrystal and US Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry.
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.
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. 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 in 2009 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.