CNN03/10/2010By [Printer Friendly Version] Kabul - America's defense chief thanked Afghanistan's soldiers for their service during a tour of a training camp Wednesday as Iran's hardline president arrived in Kabul with a pledge to purge "occupying forces" from the troubled land. "Iran has innovative plans for resolving ongoing problems in Afghanistan and the withdrawal of the occupying forces from the country," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said ahead of landing in Afghanistan, Iran's state-run Press TV reported. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates toured Camp Blackhorse in eastern Afghanistan and reassured Afghan soldiers training there that U.S. friendship with their country will be steadfast. Gates arrived in Afghanistan on Monday morning on an unannounced visit as NATO-led coalition forces are pressing an offensive against Taliban forces around the town of Marjah in southern Helmand province. Dubbed Operation Moshtarak, the offensive was launched in February by an international coalition of 15,000 troops, including Afghans, Americans, Britons, Canadians, Danes and Estonians. Gates was scheduled to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. Of Ahmadinejad's visit, Gates told reporters on the flight to Afghanistan: "Iran is playing a double game in Afghanistan. They want to maintain a good relationship with the Afghan government. They also want to do everything they possibly can to hurt us, or for us not to be successful." Gates said the Tehran government "will help the Taliban, whether they are providing money" or "some low level of support."
