US impressed by Pakistan new Army Chief: Robert Gates

WASHINGTON: US Defense Minister, Robert Gates said that US was impressed by the Pakistan new Army Chief, Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani and his country would continue to work with him for stamping out terrorism.

Talking to the newsmen here, he said that the Pakistan Army has made some successes against the terrorists in Swat. He said the US was impressed by the new Army Chief, Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani and his country would soon initiate talks with him, in which, it would be reviewed as to how best the terrorism could be effectively tackled with better training and equipments.

Replying to a question, US Defense Minister told that the number of terror incidents in Afghanistan as compared to the previous year has increased. He said that the challenge of the New Year-2008 was the consolidation of whatever achievements made in Afghanistan.

French president visits Afghanistan

KABUL: French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Kabul on Saturday in a surprise visit to Afghanistan, a reporter of an international news agency travelling with him said.

It is Sarkozy's first visit to Afghanistan since he became president of France in May.

He is expected to meet President Hamid Karzai and the head of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, General Dan McNeill.