President Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan for the first time as president March 28 in an unannounced visit (for security) to meet with Afghan President Hamid Kharzai and U.S. service members, a trip that lasted six hours.

Obama’s national security advisor James L. Jones said Obama wanted Karzai to know that “in [Karzai’s] second term, there are certain things that have not been paid attention to, almost since day one.”

Those things include wanting “to continue to make progress on the civilian process,” Obama said, and following up on Karzai’s inaugural address promises to fight corruption in the government once ruled by the Taliban.

At Bagram Air Force base, Obama addressed a crowd of U.S. and allied troops.

“Our broad mission is clear: We are going to disrupt and dismantle, defeat and destroy al Qaeda and its extremist allies,” Obama said. “And to accomplish that goal, our objectives here in Afghanistan are also clear: We’re going to deny al Qaeda safe haven. We’re going to reverse the Taliban’s momentum. We’re going to strengthen the capacity of Afghan security forces and the Afghan government so that they can begin taking responsibility and gain confidence of the Afghan people.”

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President Barack Obama greets a woman U.S. service member in Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan March 28. (Courtesy of The White House)

In December, Obama ordered additional 30,000 troops to be sent to Afghanistan.

“Make no mistake, this fight matters to us…it matters to the Afghan people,” Obama said. “Al Qaeda and the violent extremists who you’re fighting against want to destroy. But all of you want to build — and that is something essential about America. They’ve got no respect for human life. You see dignity in every human being. That’s part of what we value as Americans. They want to drive races and regions and religions apart. You want to bring people together and see the world move forward together. They offer fear, in other words, and you offer hope.”

Obama spoke to troops about his efforts to improve pay and benefits to service members.

Watch President Obama’s address on video.