Obama vows to end Afghan war

US president Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan yesterday and pledged to bring America’s longest war to a "responsible end" by the end of the year.

He promised a decision soon on keeping a small contingent of troops to help protect gains made over nearly 13 years of combat.

He told troops that the war had reached a pivotal point, with Afghan forces assuming primary responsibility for their country’s security. By 2015, many of the 32,800 US forces now in Afghanistan will depart.