Petraeus arrives in Kabul to assess Afghan war

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Gen. David Petraeus, the American general in charge of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, arrived in Kabul on Tuesday after meetings in neighboring Pakistan, a military spokesman said.

The trip is Petraeus' first to Afghanistan since he became Centcom chief Oct. 31, said Col. Greg Julian, the chief U.S. military spokesman in the country.

His visit comes at a time when many indicators suggest Afghanistan is in a downward spiral of violence. This year has been the deadliest for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. Attacks against Westerners have risen sharply in Kabul, the Afghan capital, over the last month.

Petreaus' stop in Afghanistan follows a two-day visit to neighboring Pakistan, a key U.S. ally in the war on terror. Pakistan is also battling an insurgency in its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. Al-Qaida members are also known to operate in the same region.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9486C900