French president visits Afghanistan

France's President Francois Hollande (R) meets with French soldiers during a visit to a military base in Kapisa where a large number of French combat troops are stationed in Afghanistan, May 25, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

KABUL - French president Francois Hollande paid a surprised visit to Afghanistan on Friday, a spokesman with Presidential Palace said.

"The French president is here and would hold talks with his Afghan counterpart," Hamid Elmi told Xinhua without providing more details.

More than 3,800 French troops have been stationed in Afghanistan within the framework of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force to help stabilize the conflict-ridden country.

This is President Francois Hollande's first visit to Afghanistan since assuming office earlier this month. He is expected to visit his troops serving in the post-Taliban nation during the trip.

President Francois Hollande had said at NATO's recent summit in Chicago that he intended to keep his promise to withdraw French combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year, which will be two years ahead of the alliance plan to pull out forces in 2014.