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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.
Meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, Mr Obama said he was inviting him to the US in May for talks.Meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, Mr Obama said he was inviting 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.
Mr Obama is also due to address US forces and US officials. In December, he ordered the deployment of an extra 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan.Mr Obama is also due to address US forces and US officials. 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.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? 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?
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 the president not being 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 President Obama 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.
In a joint press conference, Mr Karzai thanked Mr Obama for US support and said he hoped the partnership would continue.In a joint press conference, Mr Karzai thanked Mr Obama for US support and said he hoped the partnership would continue.
The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says that for security reasons the visit - expected to last only a few hours - was not announced beforehand and Mr Karzai was given just an hour's notice. The White House confirmed that the Afghan president would visit Washington on 12 May.
The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says that 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, our correspondent says.But while the trip is expected to be brief, it will be high on symbolism, our correspondent says.
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.
US officials said Mr Obama would discuss benchmarks with Mr Karzai and other senior government figures.US officials said Mr Obama would discuss benchmarks with Mr Karzai and other senior government figures.
The US president remains unhappy with the direction of the Karzai government and Washington wants to make its frustration known, our correspondent adds.The US president remains unhappy with the 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.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. The president was met on arrival at Bagram Air Base, near Kabul, by Gen McChrystal and the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry.
He then flew by helicopter to the presidential palace in Kabul, where he was greeted by Mr Karzai and an honour guard.He then flew by helicopter to the presidential palace in Kabul, where he was greeted by Mr Karzai and an honour guard.
Strained 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.