In a surprise visit, France's new President Francois Hollande arrived in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Friday morning. Talking to French troops at a base in the Nijrab district of eastern Kapisa province, Hollande said that his country's soldiers had carried out their mission in Afghanistan and that it was time for them to leave. "Several reasons justify this decision to withdraw our combat troops from Afghanistan," Hollande told French troops. "The time for Afghan sovereignty has come." He also added that "the terrorist threat that targeted our territory, while it hasn't totally disappeared, is in part lessened." Another reason "is that, simply, you have carried out your mission." "Thank you for what you have accomplished for France, what you are doing for Afghanistan," Hollande told the troops before flying to Kabul to meet Karzai. The new French President has called the early withdrawal as a "sovereign decision", adding that it would be "conducted in good understanding with our allies”. Hollande arrived in Afghanistan to meet with some of the 3,300 French troops stationed in the South Asian country and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The French President’s trip was not announced in advance for security reasons, Hollande's office said in a statement.

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