Top US general to assess Afghan campaign

Marine General Joe Dunford has arrived in Afghanistan with other senior military officials to assess the military campaign in the war-torn country, according to a statement by the US Department of Defence.

Dunford will meet Afghan and US officials as well as soldiers deployed as part of a recent troop increase, the statement added.

The Office of the President of Afghanistan would not say if it had arranged a meeting with Dunford. Significant state visits are subject to tight security measures in the capital Kabul.

Dunford told reporters that he wants to "to talk to the actual advisors who are working on the ground with the Afghans every day and make some conclusions about where they are".

NATO's combat mission in Afghanistan ended in 2014. The current focus is the Train, Advise and Assist under the Resolute Support mission.

Around 11,000 US troops who are part of the training mission as well as counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations are stationed in Afghanistan.

Dunford's visit takes place just a week after US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis came to Afghanistan to discuss peace with the Taliban and met Afghan and NATO officials.