Schroeder sets a first in Kabul

Schroeder wants to see first-hand what dangers German troops face in Kabul

KABUL, Afghanistan -- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has arrived in Kabul, becoming the first Western leader to visit the Afghan capital since the fall of the Taliban.

Schroeder is in the city on a one-day visit to see for himself the dangers German troops face in their duties as part of an international peacekeeping force in the capital.

The chancellor was greeted on his arrival by Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai, and is also expected to be the first foreign leader to meet former king Zahir Shah since the former monarch's return home last month from 29 years' exile in Rome.

About 1,160 German troops in the 18-nation, 5,000-strong British-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), are helping to maintain security in Kabul.

CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

"He (Schroeder) wants to get an impression of how the international troops are working together and get an idea on the ground of the dangers they face," a German official told Reuters news agency.

Two German and three Danish peacekeepers died in a demolition accident in March while they were disarming Soviet-era missiles found in the capital.

Afghan officials see Schroeder's visit as a sign of progress they have made in restoring security to Afghanistan since the Taliban was ousted last December in a U.S.-led war that also included German special forces.

"The fact that a high-profile leader like Mr. Schroeder feels he can come to Kabul in safety shows the progress we have made," a senior Afghan defence ministry official told Reuters.

On the eve of Schroeder's visit, the commander of Britain's 45 Commando group in Afghanistan, said the war against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan was "all but won" and that the focus would soon shift to helping Afghans to look after themselves.

Brigadier Roger Lane told reporters he expected offensive operations to hunt down and destroy al Qaeda to end in "a matter of weeks rather than months."

"We believe we're on the right way, that the fight against AQT (al Qaeda and Taliban) in Afghanistan is all but won, that they're not showing a predisposition to reorganise and regroup to mount offensive operations against us," Lane said.

"I don't say it's (the war) over now but I think it will be in the weeks to come rather than the months to come."

However, there are still signs of unrest and a cloud was thrown over U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's visit to Afghanistan earlier this month when there was a rocket attack on Kabul Airport on the eve of his visit.

There were no casualties or damage in the attack.

Schroeder, accompanied by 10 businessmen including the head of building firm Hochtief and a Siemens board member, is due to visit a girls' school as well as a German-funded academy aimed at training police officers.

Germany has pledged 10 million euros ($9.1 million) in aid for a programme to rebuild Afghanistan's civilian police force, donating 48 police vehicles and setting up a contact centre in the capital staffed by 12 German police officers.

Schroeder is also due to meet U.N. special envoy for Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi.

Footballer Franz Beckenbauer, chairman of Bayern Munich soccer team and head of Germany's 2006 world cup organising committee, is also in the delegation.

"The rebuilding of sports activities is something that is psychologically very important for the people. The effect of such an internationally known sports figure on the youth of the country shouldn't be underestimated," the German official told Reuters.

From Kabul, Schroeder will travel later on Thursday to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, where he will meet President Islam Karimov on Friday, before returning to Germany.