Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta arrived at Forward Operating Base Shukvani, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. (Photo:Internet)

 US Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta visited Afghanistan on Wednesday. His long-planned trip comes in the middle of a crisis in relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan after the burning of Korans at one US military base and the murder of 16 Afghan civilians. Panetta admitted that these two incidents have created new difficulties for the US mission in Afghanistan . Panetta met with Afghan tribal leaders on Wednesday and vowed that the U.S. will stay the course, insisting that great progress is being made in the fight against the Taliban.  He is expected to convey that same message to Afghan political leaders, including President Hamid Karzai, during his visit. On the same day, German Defense Minister Thomas De Maiziere also visited Afghanistan . He planned to meet with President Hamid Karzai and Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak.