KABUL, Afghanistan, December 04, SPA -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Afghanistan on Monday for his third visit to the war-torn nation since being confirmed as Pentagon chief, CNN reported. Defense Secretary Robert Gates traveled to Afghanistan on Monday after holding talks in the nation of Djibouti. Gates is expected to speak with military commanders on Tuesday. He will later brief reporters with his Afghan counterpart, Abdul Rahim Wardak, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Gates arrived from the East African nation of Djibouti, where he completed his first visit to the Horn of Africa since becoming defense secretary. He visited Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, a command center for humanitarian efforts in the region. Talks between Gates and Djiboutian officials centered on how the task force will operate in the Pentagon's new African Command. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/505982