KABUL - U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday arrived in the Afghan capital of Kabul on a weeklong trip which will also take her to Qatar, Israel and Belgium.Napolitano arrived in Kabul at approximately 7.42 a.m. local time along with six additional DHS customs and border security officials who will join DHS personnel already deployed in the region to provide civilian assistance to local security officials.
While in Afghanistan, Secretary Napolitano will meet with senior U.S. and Afghan officials - including Afghan ministers as well as security experts from DHS and other civilians from across the U.S. government - to discuss progress being made in securing the region. She will also spend New Year's Eve with American troops.
"For several years, the Department of Homeland Security has been contributing personnel to help bolster security in Afghanistan," Napolitano said. "In the last twelve months, DHS has expanded its effort here in support of President Obama’s policy of civilian engagement."
Following her departure from Afghanistan, Napolitano will continue to Qatar on January 2, Israel from January 3 until January 5 and Belgium on January 5 and 6. She is expected to meet with her Belgian counterpart in Brussels and discuss international efforts to ensure the security of the global aviation and supply chain systems against threats of terrorism and transnational crime, while facilitating the flow of legitimate travel and commerce.
