US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Kabul on an unannounced visit early Saturday to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, officials said, dpa reported.
"I can confirm that the Secretary is here," said Gavin Sundwall, the spokesman for the US Embassy in Kabul. "She is going to meet President Karzai and the officials at the embassy."
Clinton was expected to discuss the civil and military relationship between the United States and Afghanistan, a day before a major civilian aid conference in Tokyo, where the war-torn country is seeking at least four billion dollars a year for development and reconstruction.
Clinton was scheduled to fly to Tokyo after the meetings in Kabul, Sundwall said.
Karzai was to give a joint press conference at his fortified palace later Saturday. He was also due to fly to Tokyo later in the day to attend the conference, an aide said.