BAGRAM AIR FORCE BASE, Afghanistan, Feb 26 (Reuters) US Vice President Dick Cheney visited Afghanistan today for talks with President Hamid Karzai on how to guard against an anticipated spring offensive by the Taliban.
Cheney arrived at Bagram Air Force Base after another previously unannounced stop in Islamabad where he met with President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan.
The United States is bolstering its troop presence in Afghanistan by 3,200 to help combat a resurgence by the Taliban that could threaten efforts to stabilize the country.
The Bush administration has called on NATO to provide additional troops and equipment when needed to ensure success in Afghanistan, and to lift restrictions on where and how their forces can fight to give commanders flexibility.
US officials also have made it clear to Karzai that more action was needed to eradicate poppy cultivation, which increased markedly last year and provided the Taliban with money to buy weapons.
President George W Bush said earlier this month he was asking the US Congress for 11.8 billion dollars over the next two years for Afghanistan to help the ''young democracy survive.'' The harsh Afghan winters usually lead to a temporary lull in fighting but the violence is expected to increase again with the arrival of warm weather.
The United States has about 27,000 troops in Afghanistan, of which about 15,000 are in the NATO force and the rest conduct missions ranging from counter-terrorism to training Afghan forces.
The United States wants more cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Taliban and al Qaeda fighters are believed hiding in remote regions Bush called ''wilder than the Wild West.'' REUTERS SRS BST1755
Cheney arrived at Bagram Air Force Base after another previously unannounced stop in Islamabad where he met with President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan.
The United States is bolstering its troop presence in Afghanistan by 3,200 to help combat a resurgence by the Taliban that could threaten efforts to stabilize the country.
The Bush administration has called on NATO to provide additional troops and equipment when needed to ensure success in Afghanistan, and to lift restrictions on where and how their forces can fight to give commanders flexibility.
US officials also have made it clear to Karzai that more action was needed to eradicate poppy cultivation, which increased markedly last year and provided the Taliban with money to buy weapons.
President George W Bush said earlier this month he was asking the US Congress for 11.8 billion dollars over the next two years for Afghanistan to help the ''young democracy survive.'' The harsh Afghan winters usually lead to a temporary lull in fighting but the violence is expected to increase again with the arrival of warm weather.
The United States has about 27,000 troops in Afghanistan, of which about 15,000 are in the NATO force and the rest conduct missions ranging from counter-terrorism to training Afghan forces.
The United States wants more cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Taliban and al Qaeda fighters are believed hiding in remote regions Bush called ''wilder than the Wild West.'' REUTERS SRS BST1755
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