KABUL, Afghanistan, Rajab 2, 1432, Jun 4, 2011, SPA - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates flew to Afghanistan Saturday in an unannounced visit to say farewell to US troops and Afghan leaders. Gates, who is retiring at the end of the month, arrived in Kabul on a flight from Singapore, where he reaffirmed U.S. commitments to Asian security earlier in the day. Gates planned to meet with soldiers and Marines in eastern and southern Afghanistan. He also was holding talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai He also was to meet in Kabul with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, according to a report of the Associated Press. --SPA 15:09 LOCAL TIME 12:09 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/899544