US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan where he met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as well as senior US officials in Kabul.
His visit comes amid US plans to withdraw all American troops from the country before the 20th anniversary this year of September 11 terror attacks.
After meeting Ghani, Blinken said his visit was to demonstrate the ongoing commitment of the United States to the Islamic Republic and the people of Afghanistan.
The withdrawal plans are going ahead in spite of a deadlock in peace talks with Taliban which Analysts says could threaten to leave a power vacuum in Afghanistan.
Ever since the US indicated that it wanted to pull out from Afghanistan, there has been marked increase in violence with emboldened Taliban carrying out bombings and assassinations.
Initially aimed at May 1, the withdrawal plans have been postponed by four months which has angered the Taliban, who have threatened to resume hostilities against US forces.
The Pentagon has around 2,500 troops in Afghanistan from a high of over 100,000. Thousands more serve as part of a 9,600-strong NATO force, which will withdraw at the same time.
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