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Published: Saturday 19 July 2008 20:31 UTC
Last updated: Saturday 19 July 2008 20:31 UTC United States Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has met some of the 36,000 US soldiers serving in Afghanistan. He and other US senators were briefed on the international mission to Afghanistan at Bagram air base. They then flew on to Jalalabad in the east of the country, where they again talked to US service personnel.
On Sunday, Mr Obama is meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai whom he has recently accused of having too little interest in his country's reconstruction.
If he becomes US president in November, Mr Obama has said he will increase the number of American troops deployed in Afghanistan. Conversely, US forces would be withdrawn from Iraq more quickly. After his visit to Afghanistan, Mr Obama will fly on to Iraq where he will also see the situation for himself on the ground.
Obama visits Afghanistan on international tour
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11 hours ago
KABUL (AFP) — Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama met US troops in Afghanistan Saturday during a visit to assess efforts against extremist militants at the start of a major international tour, officials said.
US military commanders at the main US base at Bagram, north of Kabul, briefed Obama and other senators on the international effort against Taliban and other Islamic extremists, the US-led coalition said.
The delegation later flew to a base in eastern Afghanistan, closer to the border with Pakistan, where they met more of the 36,000 US soldiers in Afghanistan.
Obama was due to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai on Sunday, the Afghan government said.