German DM on surprise visit to Afghanistan

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere arrived in Afghanistan Tuesday on an unannounced visit. De Maiziere was to visit a base in the northern town of Kunduz where most of the 4,800 German soldiers in the country are stationed, the German (DPA) news agency reported. It is his seventh visit since he took office 16 months ago. The German contingent of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan has been preparing for withdrawal since the beginning of the year, and has been reduced from 5,350 troops. The withdrawal of all international troops is scheduled for 2014. The relationship between Afghanistan and the international community after the withdrawal is to be further discussed at a conference to start this weekend in Tokyo.