U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, right, is greeted by Marine Gen. John R. Allen, left, commander of International Security Assistance Force, upon his arrival at Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. Panetta is expected to meet with troops as part of a holiday visit to thank the troops for their service. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, right, is greeted by Marine Gen. John R. Allen, left, commander of International Security Assistance Force, upon his arrival at Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. Panetta is expected to meet with troops as part of a holiday visit to thank the troops for their service. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, right, smiles as he is greeted by U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan James B. Cunningham, center, and Marine Gen. John R. Allen, left, commander of International Security Assistance Force, upon arriving at Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. Panetta is expected to meet with troops as part of a holiday visit to thank the troops for their service. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta waves as he boards his plane after visiting troops at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. Panetta met with troops as part of a holiday visit to thank the troops for their service. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Afghanistan on Wednesday for an unannounced visit to consult with top commanders and President Hamid Karzai.
The visit comes at a difficult juncture in the Western coalition's efforts to shift more security responsibilities to Afghan forces so the combat mission can end in December 2014.
While security has generally improved lately, the Afghan government's ability to effectively govern and to root out corruption is in great doubt. Peace talks with the Taliban are on a back burner.
Earlier Wednesday in Kuwait, Panetta said President Barack Obama will decide in the next few weeks how many U.S. troops will stay in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends.
Panetta did not reveal what options Obama is considering, but officials have said he may settle on a figure between 6,000 and 10,000. There currently are about 66,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
The post-2014 mission is expected to focus on counterterrorism and advising Afghan security forces.
Before flying to Afghanistan, Panetta spoke to about 100 U.S. service members inside an aircraft hangar at a desert base west of Kuwait City. He thanked them for their service and emphasized that the U.S. is winding down its involvement in lengthy wars.
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