German Defence Minister visits Afghanistan

German Defence Minister Thomas De Maiziere arrived in Afghanistan Wednesday on an unannounced visit, officials said. He was scheduled to meet with John Allen, the commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, Wednesday evening in Kabul, a Western military official said. The German Defence Ministry confirmed the visit and De Maiziere's arrival in the southern province of Kandahar to visit German army signal troops stationed there. The visit was focused on exchanging information and thanking allies, a ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by DPA. "He is not scheduled to meet with the Afghan defence minister," said Daulat Waziri, the deputy spokesman for the Defence Ministry in Kabul. The visit was De Maiziere’s eighth to Afghanistan since he took office 17 months ago. Early this month, he visited northern Afghanistan.