Mr Obama's speech ended with the image of a US flag found, damaged and burned but still intact, in the rubble of the World Trade Center after the 11 September attacks on the US, says the BBC's David Loyn in Kabul.

The visit comes as the president is under criticism at home for the treatment of wounded veterans from the conflict.

He had his biggest cheer from the troops for his commitment to help find jobs for veterans, and look after the wounded, which he described not as a promise but a "sacred obligation", adds our correspondent.

More than 2,100 members of the US military have been killed during nearly 13 years of war in Afghanistan. Thousands more have been wounded.

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