3 years ago
Pentagon source said on Sunday that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had paid an unofficial visit to Afghanistan.
The visit comes as the US military's withdrawal from Afghanistan draws near. United States agreed with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan last year to withdraw all US troops on May 1 this year, and Secretary of Defense met with senior Afghan officials in preparation.
US Secretary of Defense, who is on a visit to Asia, met with Afghan president at a time when US President Joe Widen said it would be difficult to withdraw all US troops on May 1, date set by the previous government.
An Afghan official told AFP that news coverage of the visit had been delayed, as US defense officials urged Afghan officials not to make news public until the secretary of defense had returned from Afghanistan.
Earlier this week, Secretary of Defense Austin visited Asian countries, including Japan and India.
