Rumsfeld pays brief visit to Afghanistan

US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has showed his support to Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai during his one-day visit in Kabul ahead of the country's first-ever presidential election slated for Oct. 9.

Rumsfeld praised President Karzai and reaffirmed the US commitment to rebuilding the country.

He also voiced concern over the growing drug problem in the war-wrecked central Asian nation and called for its solution.

Rumsfeld, who is on a previously unannounced tour amid tight security, held talks with his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Qasim Fahim earlier.

The visit comes amid surging militancy in the south, southeast and eastern parts of the war-ravaged country as well as emerging rift between the US-backed Karzai and former Mujahidin leaders headed by the powerful defense minister.

Fahim, who was dropped as chief running mate in the presidential race last month, vowed to back Karzai's rival, the former Education Minister Yunus Qanooni in the election.

CRIENGLISH.com