Biden pledges Afghan help

US vice president-elect Joe Biden promised US support for Afghanistan’s struggle against terrorism, drugs and corruption, in a surprise visit to southern Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

The future of the region where al-Qaida planned the September 11 attacks, Mr Biden said, “affects us all”.

President-elect Barack Obama has promised to end the war in Iraq and refocus US military efforts on Afghanistan, where al-Qaida-linked militants and the Taliban are making a comeback after initial defeats in the US-led invasion in 2001.

The US is rushing up to 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan and some will go to these southern provinces.