KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Afghan warlords Thursday it's time to lay down their arms and give authority to the government in Kabul.
Rumsfeld is trying to assess progress in stabilizing the country.
Rumsfeld met two powerful regional warlords and a British-led reconstruction team, before heading for talks with President Hamid Karzai, the BBC reported.
He was to meet the heads of various militia factions to thank them for their help in toppling the Taliban, but also told them the time for private militias is over and the government in Kabul is now in charge.
"It is no great surprise that those who have been defeated and removed will be looking to come back ... but they will not have that opportunity," Rumsfeld said.
He commended the work of the British-led Provincial Reconstruction Team -- a small team of military and civilian officers deployed in the north to help stabilize the situation.
The United States and other foreign governments are planning to increase the number of PRTs across Afghanistan from their current six to about 12.
