Newly-appointed United States Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in Afghanistan late Friday in his maiden foreign visit, said Jamie Graybeal, a spokesman for the US military, DPA reported.
Hagel is scheduled to meet with senior Afghan and coalition leaders, including Afghan President Hamid Karzai, officials said.
The decorated Vietnam War veteran addressed US and NATO-led troops in Kabul, telling them that despite Afghan forces' stepping up to lead combat operations the war for them would still be ongoing.
"Even as we move into more of a support role, this remains a dangerous and difficult mission," Hagel told the troops, according to a statement by the NATO-led coalition.
"We are still at war, and many of you will continue to experience the ugly reality of combat and the heat of battle."
Hagel was sworn in as the head of Defence Department one and half weeks ago after a grueling debate in the US Senate.
The decorated Vietnam War veteran addressed US and NATO-led troops in Kabul, telling them that despite Afghan forces' stepping up to lead combat operations the war for them would still be ongoing.
"Even as we move into more of a support role, this remains a dangerous and difficult mission," Hagel told the troops, according to a statement by the NATO-led coalition.
"We are still at war, and many of you will continue to experience the ugly reality of combat and the heat of battle."
Hagel was sworn in as the head of Defence Department one and half weeks ago after a grueling debate in the US Senate.
Kyrgyz Parliament supports Manas agreement denunciation
BSTDB to study Azerbaijan's experience in economic diversification
BSTDB to allocate major credit for SOCAR
Turkmenistan’s ambassador to Lithuania appointed
Talks with U.S. to resume postal service are "satisfactory": Cuba
China, Russia added to US human trafficking worst-offender list
