Germany's defense minister is in Afghanistan for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the top NATO commander, U.S. General Stanley McChrystal.

German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg arrives in Kabul aboard military plane, 12 Nov 2009

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg arrived in Kabul Thursday on a previously unannounced visit, during which he will also meet his Afghan counterpart Abdul Rahim Wardak.

Germany has contributed more than 4,000 troops to Afghanistan, with most serving in the country's north.

In a separate development, the U.S. military says Afghan and international security forces killed several militants Thursday in Ghazni province.

A military statement says the troops also detained a group of militants during the operation, including a sought-after Taliban commander who was in charge of up to 50 fighters.

And, Afghan officials have announced that President Hamid Karzai will be sworn in for a second term on November 19. Mr. Karzai was assured of re-election to a second five-year term after his challenger, former Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, withdrew earlier this month from an expected second-round ballot. The first ballot in August was tainted by fraud.