U.S. vice president pays surprise visit to Afghanistan

KABUL, March 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan capital Kabul Thursday, calling the NATO member states to pledge more support to the war-torn nation in the alliance's coming summit in Bucharest.

"The U.S. wants NATO members to issue a strong statement at the summit pledging a long-term commitment to help Afghanistan become a prosperous and stable nation," he told newsmen at a joint press conference with Afghan leader after meeting him here at his Palace.

He also stressed that Washington will press its NATO allies to step up their military engagement in Afghanistan.

It is the fourth unannounced trip of Cheney to Afghanistan as Vice President over the past four years, during which he exchanged views with President Hamid Karzai over the security situation in Afghanistan, Taliban-led militancy, U.S. and NATO's role in ensuring durable stability in the post-Taliban country.

The vice president also expressed his satisfaction over the achievement made by Afghan government over the past six years, adding Afghanistan has made good progress in the fields of peace, stability and democracy.

Cheney, who came under bomb attack during his previous visit to Afghanistan last year when he was in Bagram the U.S. main military base in Afghanistan, repeated White House continued support to Afghanistan.

"The United States would continue to stand alongside you and I am here to once again assure the continued support of the U.S. to you," Cheney noted.

He also expressed satisfaction over the ongoing reconstruction process of Afghanistan, adding the reconstruction process of Afghanistan is going on, roads and bridges are constructed and the Untied States would continue to support the process.

However, he noted that the final success is the complete defeat of terrorists in Afghanistan and the United States would continue to stand alongside the Afghan people in this regard.

The U.S. vice president also asserted that Washington would send additional 3,200 troops to Afghanistan bringing its military strength up to 30,000.

Replying a question, the U.S. Vice President said, "We have good relationship with government and people of Pakistan and no doubt that Pakistan government will fight extremists."

Afghan President for his part expressed his gratitude to the U.S. government and its people for their contribution in defeating Taliban regime and rebuilding the war-ravaged country.

More than 60,000 in the framework of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the U.S.-led Coalition forces have been stationed in Afghanistan to stabilize security in the post-Taliban central Asian state.