KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 9, 2012 – Seeking updated first-hand information on the current situation on the ground in Afghanistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived here today to meet with senior military leaders and service members.

In the meetings, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey “will refresh his knowledge and understanding of the progress and challenges to the campaign plan,” Marine Corps Col. David Lapan, the chairman’s spokesman, told American Forces Press Service.

Dempsey will be in the region for meetings for a day and a half.

At the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force, Dempsey will meet with Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, and the ISAF staff.

The chairman also will meet with Army Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Bolger, commander of NATO Training Mission Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan.

Later, Dempsey will meet with commanders and small-unit leaders in the field, and with Afghan Defense Minister Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak.

About the timeline for the drawdown in Afghanistan that Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta discussed during his recent trip to Brussels for the NATO defense ministers meeting Feb. 2, Lapan said, “It is neither an acceleration nor stopping of combat operations in 2013.” He noted that the leaders of NATO member governments agreed on the way forward in Afghanistan at their November 2010 summit in Lisbon, Portugal.

“We remain on track and committed to achieving the Lisbon objectives,” Lapan said. “We project that Afghan forces will be in the lead in 2014, but U.S. and other ISAF forces partnered and operating with them will remain in combat.”

Source: Department of Defense