Clinton makes surprise visit to Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a surprise visit to Afghanistan Wednesday to meet officials in Kabul amid a fragile peace process.

Clinton arrived in Kabul ahead of meetings Thursday with President Hamid Karzai and other officials, less than six weeks after insurgents mounted a sustained attack on the U.S. Embassy and the Sept. 21 assassination of High Peace Council head Burhanuddin Rabbani, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Rabbani was killed in a suicide bombing by a man he thought represented the Taliban. Karzai has said he won't negotiate with the Taliban, saying further talks must involve Pakistan.

Clinton has said negotiations with the Haqqani network, which claimed credit for the embassy assault in September, are still possible, the Times said.