“Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Afghanistan on Monday for talks with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai,” the Associated Press writes. “The trip had been unannounced for security reasons.”

According to a statement from the White House:

“The primary purpose of the trip is to assess progress toward the transition to Afghan-led security beginning this year, and to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to a long-term partnership with Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, the vice president will meet with President Hamid Karzai, visit with U.S. service members and civilian personnel, and tour an Afghan National Army Training Center.”

It is Biden’s first trip to Afghanistan as vice president. He last visited there in January 2009, as vice president-elect. Copyright 2011 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.