French President François Hollande Visits Afghanistan

Report by JENIFERLAMUG

The newly sworn in French president Francois Hollande had paid a surprised visit to Afghanistan on Friday with the aim to meet Afghan president Hamid Karzai and the French combat troops based in the country.

Since his May 15 inauguration, Pres. Hollande planned to withdraw the 3,400 French soldiers in Afghanistan by the end of this year, reports newswire. A statement released by the 24th president of the French Republic office said “Hollande will pay tribute to the 83 French soldiers who died in the line of duty, fighting terrorism and for peace" in Afghanistan.

Hollande, who is reportedly set to hold talk with Karzai was accompanied by Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian together with chief of army staff Admiral Edouard Guillaud.

The joint news conference between the two leaders will also focus on Hollande’s explanation to pull out French troops in the war-torn country. He told reporters that it would take place with ''good understanding with other NATO allies'' and some troops will remain in the country to help train Afghan police and soldiers, who will be responsible for national security.