Gates is to meet with Karzai and U.S . Kabul , Afghanistan ( CNN ) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived in Afghanistan on Monday morning on an unannounced visit , as NATO-led coalition forces are pressing an offensive in the nation 's south . Commander Gen. Ahmadinejad . Coalition forces are battling Taliban fighters around the town of Marjah in Helmand province . Gates arrived on mid-March as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was due . But Iranian officials said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 's visit had been postponed until same day .
Gates is to meet with Karzai and U.S . Commander Gen. Ahmadinejad . Coalition forces are battling Taliban fighters around the town of Marjah in Helmand province . Gates arrived on mid-March as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was due . But Iranian officials said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 's visit had been postponed until same day .