December 8, 2009 U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived in Kabul. Reuters quotes him as saying, that he intends to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and American servicemen.

U.S. top diplomat will press Karzai to appoint “honest ministers” and remind of the “long-term partnership” between U.S. and Afghanistan.

“As the security situation improves and U.S. is able to reduce its forces, the civilian, economic, and other kinds of relations between Kabul and Washington will become ‘predominant’,” Gates said.

Obama’s commitment means the increase of military contingent by 30.000 U.S. troops. Gates’ visit to Afghanistan was kept secret until the last minute, AFP reports.

L.A.