04 December,2010 07:52 AM IST | | Agencies
US President Barack Obama yesterday last night paid a surprise lightning visit to Afghanistan to huddle with leaders and troops as his administration takes a hard look at whether its war strategy is working.
Obama left the White House quietly and flew to Kabul under cover of darkness. It was the second such visit since Obama became president, with his aides announcing nothing of his trip due to security concerns.
Obama, who has tripled US troop numbers in Afghanistan, was set to spend a mere three hours in the country at Bagram Air Base, the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division.
He was met by General David Petraeus, commander of US troops in Afghanistan, and US ambassador Karl Eikenberry, and went straight to a base hospital to meet with wounded soldiers.
At the air base, Obama met with "wounded warriors" and other US troops spending the holiday season, an official said.
Obama's trip comes as his administration works on a review of its war strategy to be completed by the end of December, but coincides with new problems with Karzai over embarrassing Wikileaks.
The Afghan presidency declined to comment those allegations.
