Obama says Afghanistan's anti-graft progress 'too slow'

President Barack Obama, who paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Sunday, said progress there was "too slow" on cracking down on corruption and the drug trade.  

In an interview with NBC News, Obama was asked about the anti-corruption message he brought to Afghan president Hamid Karzai during the brief visit.

"I think he is listening, but I think that the progress is too slow and what we''ve been trying to emphasize is the fierce urgency of now," he said.

Obama's meeting with Karzai was subdued, reflecting the frosty relations between the two nations. US officials said corruption was among the issues Obama had discussed with Karzai in half an hour of talks.

The US president's comments in the interview were blunter than his diplomatic approach in Kabul when Obama said he wanted to "continue to make progress on ... good governance, rule of law, anti-corruption efforts."

The day after Obama's visit, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff was in Kabul and warned Karzai to do more to fight graft or he could ruin the new US strategy in the war. 

A perception in the United States that Karzai is tolerant of corruption has sapped support in America for the war.