VP Biden arrives in Afghanistan on sudden visit

Vice President Joe Biden was in Afghanistan Monday for a surprise visit aimed at assessing progress in handing over security from foreign to Afghan forces, a key issue that comes against a backdrop of mounting concerns in the US over the gains made in the nearly decade-long war.

The US is to begin withdrawing combat forces from Afghanistan in July, and questions remain about the ability of the country's security forces to take up the fight in the face of a virulent insurgency. NATO hopes Afghan forces will assume full responsibility for security by 2014. (AP)