US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday for talks with military leaders. During the visit, Panetta will be briefed on an assessment from US General John Allen, the head of NATO coalition forces in Afghanistan, about the \"ability to confront these threats from the Taliban and from the Haqqanis\", Panetta told reporters. Panetta is also scheduled to visit troops and hold talks with his Afghan counterpart, General Abdul Rahim Wardak.