Germany's defense minister has made an unannounced visit to Bundeswehr troops in Afghanistan. Thomas de Maiziere said he was "cautiously optimistic" about the security situation and the planned 2014 withdrawal.
Shortly after his arrival in Kunduz, the defense minister said he was "cautiously optimistic" that the situation in the country would allow German troops to meet their timetable for pulling out of Afghanistan, according to the dapd news agency, adding that the security situation in the region had improved over the past two years.
© dw-world
