国际英语新闻：Pentagon chief vows to defeat Taliban, al-Qaida

The visiting U.S. defense secretary also said that the scheduled beginning of troops withdrawal in July 2011 does not mean abandoning Afghanistan, and that the United States would continue with its economic, military and political support to the country.

For his part, President Karzai said that in his talks with Gates, matters of mutual interests, including the situation in Afghanistan and war on terror, came under discussion.

The Afghan leader stressed that strained relations between Afghanistan and the U.S. would serve neither sides.

He said that he urged a change of strategy in the war on terror and Gates expressed his consent.

The relations between Afghanistan and the U.S. have recently turned tense over alleged corruption in the Afghan administration and the White House's pressure on Kabul to fight it.