(10 Jan 2009) SHOTLIST
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Wide of United States Vice President-elect Joe Biden arriving at the Afghan presidential palace
2. Mid of Biden waving at media
3. Side angle view of Biden and aides entering building
4. Biden meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai
5. Various of Biden and Karzai chatting
STORYLINE
The United States Vice President-elect arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday for talks with the country's leaders, as surging Taliban violence claimed the lives of more American troops.
Shortly after his arrival, Joe Biden met Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.
The US is rushing up to 30 thousand American troops over to Afghanistan, some of whom will go to its volatile southern provinces, to combat a Taliban insurgency that has sent violence to record levels.
Biden also met US General David McKiernan, head of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan, who warned that the thousands of new American troops expected will need more helicopters and other support to beat back surging Taliban violence.
In 2008, 151 American troops died in the country, more than in any other year since the 2001 US-led invasion to oust the Taliban.
President-elect Barack Obama campaigned on a platform of ending the war in Iraq and refocusing American's military efforts on the Afghan region.
Biden's visit is a clear signal that Obama's new administration plans to make the region an immediate priority.
Biden's visit follows his trip to neighbouring Pakistan, where aides said he met President Asif Ali Zadari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are embroiled in a vicious Taliban-led insurgency, which has claimed thousands of lives.
Biden's tour comes after five US soldiers were killed in two separate attacks in southern Afghanistan, and as US officials warned the violence will likely intensify this year.
Three US soldiers were killed in an explosion on Friday in southern Afghanistan.
Another two soldiers were killed in a suicide attack on Thursday in a marketplace in Kandahar province's Maywand district.
The US senator from Delaware is due to take office as vice president on 20 January.
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