US Defense Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld said today he will shortly visit Afghanistan and other central Asian states to discuss the war on terrorism with leaders in the region.
"I do intend to go back and visit Afghanistan and some of the neighboring countries in the period ahead," Mr Rumsfeld said at a brief Pentagon press conference with visiting Polish Defense Minister Mr Jerzy Szmajdzinski.
Mr Rumsfeld has made several trips to the region around Afghanistan since the September 11th attacks on America to thank leaders for their support of the US-led military campaign against al Qaeda guerrillas and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. He visited Afghanistan in December for talks with interim government leader Mr Hamid Karzai.
He declined to give the date of his latest trip, saying details were still being worked out. He said regional countries had been very cooperative and helpful in the global war on terrorism.