Afghan war priority for London, Hague says

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 24 (UPI) -- Afghanistan is a top priority for the new government in London, the British foreign secretary said during his visit to the Afghan capital.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague led a delegation of top foreign ministry officials to Kabul to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Hague told reporters with the BBC that his visit was meant to gain situational awareness of the conflict in Afghanistan.

British forces are joining their U.S. and NATO counterparts in a counterinsurgency campaign meant to prop up the government in Kabul.

Hague said Afghanistan was a "steady friend" of the new government in Britain, stressing the international effort there is vital to British national security.

"Our most urgent priority is to get to grips with the situation in Afghanistan," the minister said. "It will consume a lot of our time, energy and effort and it is therefore vital that ministers have a strong understanding of the issues."

Hague took over as the British foreign secretary in early May when the Conservative Party won the general election. David Miliband, his predecessor, had said that Afghanistan must take responsibility for political reconciliation because military power alone won't secure the peace.

Hague was accompanied by Defense Secretary Liam Fox and International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.