This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27568363
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| President Barack Obama makes surprise Afghan visit | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama is making a previously unannounced visit to US troops in Afghanistan. | |
| Mr Obama flew overnight from Washington to Bagram Airfield outside Kabul, where he is due to address soldiers. | |
| The visit comes a day before Memorial Day, when Americans commemorate troops who have died in service. | |
| Mr Obama is not expected to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Foreign combat troops are due to withdraw from the country by the end of the year. | |
| The US is seeking to keep a small number of troops there beyond 2014 to train Afghan security forces. | |
| However the plan depends on the next Afghan president - due to be elected next month - signing a bilateral security agreement which Mr Karzai has refused to authorise. | |
| The Taliban have stepped up attacks ahead of the withdrawal by Nato and US troops. |