NEW DELHI (WION) — Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin wrapped up his Asia tour with a surprise visit to Afghanistan. It comes merely weeks ahead of the deadline for the American troops to withdraw from the country.

Austin visited the U.S. embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul before meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other top officials at the presidential palace. The defence chief spent roughly seven hours in the capital, and is the first member of President Biden’s Cabinet to visit the country.