Tweet
US defence chief arrives in Afghanistan
Leon Panetta's set for talks with Afghan leaders and US commanders amid rising resentment after soldier's killing spree.
Last Modified: 14 Mar 2012 08:55
Email
Print
Share
Feedback
Afghan anger against US involvement in their country has intensified with recent events since January [Reuters] The US defence secretary has arrived in Afghanistan to meet with troops, commanders and Afghan government officials just days after a US soldier went on a killing spree that left 16 Afghan villagers dead.
While US officials said the trip was planned months ago, Leon Panetta's arrival on Wednesday propelled him into the centre of escalating anti-US sentiment and set the stage for some difficult discussions with Afghan leaders.
From the perspective of one neighbourhood in Herat Panetta's two-day visit is scheduled to include meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Afghan defence officials and provincial leaders, as well as routine discussions with his commanders on the ground.
Panetta and other US officials say the shooting spree should not derail the US and NATO strategy of a gradual withdrawal of troops by the end of 2014.
"I think we're on the right path now, and what we've got to do is convince people that, despite these kinds of events, we ought not to allow these events to undermine that strategy," Panetta said on Monday.
The US military has detained an army staff sergeant in connection with Sunday's killings.
Senior US officials are investigating what caused the soldier to go on a shooting spree after leaving his base in southern Afghanistan, apparently heavily-armed and carrying night-vision equipment.
Officials confirmed that the soldier was being detained in Kandahar and that the military was treating at least five wounded people.
Even before the shootings, anti-US sentiment was already on the rise in Afghanistan after reports emerged that copies of the Quran were burned last month at a US-run airbase.
The burnings came to light soon after a video purporting to show four US soldiers urinating on Taliban corpses was posted on the internet in January.
Military commanders have yet to release their final investigation on the Quran burnings, which US officials have apologised for.
Five US service members could face disciplinary action in connection with the incident.
Panetta's agenda is likely to include discussion over the US's planned withdrawal of about 22,000 troops by the second half of the year, including as many as 10,000 troops from Helmand province.
Leon Panetta's set for talks with Afghan leaders and US commanders amid rising resentment after soldier's killing spree.
Last Modified: 14 Mar 2012 08:55
inShare5
Share
Feedback
Afghan anger against US involvement in their country has intensified with recent events since January [Reuters] The US defence secretary has arrived in Afghanistan to meet with troops, commanders and Afghan government officials just days after a US soldier went on a killing spree that left 16 Afghan villagers dead.While US officials said the trip was planned months ago, Leon Panetta's arrival on Wednesday propelled him into the centre of escalating anti-US sentiment and set the stage for some difficult discussions with Afghan leaders.
From the perspective of one neighbourhood in Herat Panetta's two-day visit is scheduled to include meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Afghan defence officials and provincial leaders, as well as routine discussions with his commanders on the ground.Panetta and other US officials say the shooting spree should not derail the US and NATO strategy of a gradual withdrawal of troops by the end of 2014.
"I think we're on the right path now, and what we've got to do is convince people that, despite these kinds of events, we ought not to allow these events to undermine that strategy," Panetta said on Monday.
The US military has detained an army staff sergeant in connection with Sunday's killings.
Senior US officials are investigating what caused the soldier to go on a shooting spree after leaving his base in southern Afghanistan, apparently heavily-armed and carrying night-vision equipment.
Officials confirmed that the soldier was being detained in Kandahar and that the military was treating at least five wounded people.
Even before the shootings, anti-US sentiment was already on the rise in Afghanistan after reports emerged that copies of the Quran were burned last month at a US-run airbase.
The burnings came to light soon after a video purporting to show four US soldiers urinating on Taliban corpses was posted on the internet in January.
Military commanders have yet to release their final investigation on the Quran burnings, which US officials have apologised for.
Five US service members could face disciplinary action in connection with the incident.
Panetta's agenda is likely to include discussion over the US's planned withdrawal of about 22,000 troops by the second half of the year, including as many as 10,000 troops from Helmand province.
Comment