Kerry lands in Kabul on unannounced visit
Kerry skips Pakistan trip to avoid accusations of meddling in upcoming elections.
US Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai as US Ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham (L) watches at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, March 25, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
KABUL:
US Secretary of State John Kerry landed in Afghanistan on Monday for an unannounced visit, with relations badly frayed by Kabul's recent hostility to US-led military efforts in the country.
Kerry is likely to face a testing meeting with President Hamid Karzai who has launched a series of verbal assaults on US troops and their coalition partners.
"He will make clear that the US will have an enduring commitment in Afghanistan that will last beyond transition and that there will always be bumps on the road," a US official travelling with Kerry told reporters.
More than 11 years after the Taliban were ousted from power, international forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan and handing responsibility for fighting the Islamic insurgents to poorly-trained local police and army.
As the transition gathers pace, the United States and Afghanistan are also negotiating a strategic pact that will determine the US presence in the country after the end of international combat operations next year.
One major cause of friction between Washington and Kabul was solved hours ahead of Kerry's arrival when a ceremony was held to mark the final transfer of the controversial Bagram jail from US to Afghan control.
The drawn-out war is increasingly unpopular in the US, and Karzai triggered fury earlier this month when he accused the US of working in concert with Taliban militants to justify keeping soldiers on foreign soil.
"Issues of security and sovereignty are always going to be difficult," the US official travelling with Kerry said.
"But the most important thing is that we are honest to each other when there are differences between us, and you have seen some differences playing out recently."
Kerry drops Islamabad visit
US Secretary of State John Kerry scrapped a planned visit to Pakistan to avoid accusations of meddling in the upcoming elections, US officials said on Monday.
Kerry, who landed in neighbouring Kabul after a trip to the Middle East, dropped Islamabad from his itinerary as Pakistan prepares for elections on May 11 that will mark the country's first democratic transition of power.
"Originally Secretary Kerry was hopeful he would be able to go to Pakistan on this trip as well," a US official told reporters travelling with Kerry.
"But as the government there enters a very historic period on this electoral process we wanted to fully respect those institutions and the ongoing process."
The US is a major donor to Pakistan and there is deep suspicion among many Pakistanis over US involvement in the country.
There is also fierce public anger over US drone strikes targeting militants near the border with Afghanistan.
The official said Kerry had met Pakistan's powerful army chief Ashfaq Kayani in Jordan on Sunday evening and would visit Islamabad in the near future.
US Secretary of State John Kerry landed in Afghanistan on Monday for an unannounced visit, with relations badly frayed by Kabul's recent hostility to US-led military efforts in the country.
Kerry is likely to face a testing meeting with President Hamid Karzai who has launched a series of verbal assaults on US troops and their coalition partners.
"He will make clear that the US will have an enduring commitment in Afghanistan that will last beyond transition and that there will always be bumps on the road," a US official travelling with Kerry told reporters.
More than 11 years after the Taliban were ousted from power, international forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan and handing responsibility for fighting the Islamic insurgents to poorly-trained local police and army.
As the transition gathers pace, the United States and Afghanistan are also negotiating a strategic pact that will determine the US presence in the country after the end of international combat operations next year.
One major cause of friction between Washington and Kabul was solved hours ahead of Kerry's arrival when a ceremony was held to mark the final transfer of the controversial Bagram jail from US to Afghan control.
The drawn-out war is increasingly unpopular in the US, and Karzai triggered fury earlier this month when he accused the US of working in concert with Taliban militants to justify keeping soldiers on foreign soil.
"Issues of security and sovereignty are always going to be difficult," the US official travelling with Kerry said.
"But the most important thing is that we are honest to each other when there are differences between us, and you have seen some differences playing out recently."
Kerry drops Islamabad visit
US Secretary of State John Kerry scrapped a planned visit to Pakistan to avoid accusations of meddling in the upcoming elections, US officials said on Monday.
Kerry, who landed in neighbouring Kabul after a trip to the Middle East, dropped Islamabad from his itinerary as Pakistan prepares for elections on May 11 that will mark the country's first democratic transition of power.
"Originally Secretary Kerry was hopeful he would be able to go to Pakistan on this trip as well," a US official told reporters travelling with Kerry.
"But as the government there enters a very historic period on this electoral process we wanted to fully respect those institutions and the ongoing process."
The US is a major donor to Pakistan and there is deep suspicion among many Pakistanis over US involvement in the country.
There is also fierce public anger over US drone strikes targeting militants near the border with Afghanistan.
The official said Kerry had met Pakistan's powerful army chief Ashfaq Kayani in Jordan on Sunday evening and would visit Islamabad in the near future.