Trump hints could make first visit to Afghanistan
US President Donald Trump addresses the 71st presentation and pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkeys ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, US. PHOTO: REUTERS
US President Donald Trump hinted on Thursday he may visit Afghanistan, scene of one of America’s longest wars but a country he has yet to visit almost two years into his presidency.
Delivering a Thanksgiving Day holiday message by teleconference to troops in Afghanistan, Trump told a US Air Force general he would see him back in the United States, before adding: “Or maybe I’ll even see you over there. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Recent US commanders-in-chief have routinely visited troops in active war zones but such trips are typically cloaked in secrecy for security reasons.
How international and local media reported Imran, Trump war of words
Trump has not made such a visit so far, though Vice President Mike Pence made a surprise trip to Bagram Air Base last December to visit troops.
The United States has some 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, serving in the NATO-led Resolute Support training and advisory mission as well as in separate counter-terrorism operations against militant groups like Islamic State.
US troops arrived in 2001 as part of the campaign to topple the Taliban following the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.