American soldiers invite Obama to Afghanistan

A group of American soldiers in Kabul, who got a rare chance to speak to their new commander-in-chief Barack Obama through video conferencing, invited the US president to visit Afghanistan and witness their work of developing the security forces of the war-torn country.

The videoconferencing took place last night during the commander-in-chief's Inaugural Ball – one of the 10 official inaugural balls – held to honour the service of the US military.    

Obama, who was sworn in as the 44th US president yesterday, was in Afghanistan last year in the run up to his presidential election. He promised his soldiers that he would be back soon.

"We're so honoured that you'd take time in this busy day to talk to us. And before I pass the mike on, I want to invite you back to Afghanistan and sit down with some of the great Afghans we work with," said one of the US soldiers who got an opportunity to talk to his commander-in-chief.

"As we develop their security forces, come on back when you get a chance, sir," said the soldier from the Illinois Army National Guard 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Unit.    

Obama promptly responded: "I will be back."

Addressing the US soldiers and commanders at the Commander-in-Chief's Ball, Obama said he would do everything to make their work go smoother. 

"Right now, as we gather here in Washington, we're sobered by the knowledge that we have troops serving in all corners of the world, many of them in harm's way. We are fighting two wars. We face dangerous threats to our security," he said.