The United States Vice President Mike Pence who arrived in Afghanistan on a surprise visit on Thursday night, warned Pakistan against offering safe havens to terrorist groups on its soil.

He reiterated word for word US President Donald Trump's warning that Pakistan must stop offering cross-border safe havens to Taliban factions and armed militant groups fighting US troops and their Afghan allies, AFP reported. 

“Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with the United States, and Pakistan has much to lose by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists," Pence said. “President Trump has put Pakistan on notice.” 

As he thanked the US troops for their service, the vice president told them that they have put the Taliban on the run.

“The American people deserve to know that with the courage of everyone gathered here, we're making real progress in this fight for freedom in Afghanistan,” Pence told the troops at Bagram Airfield. “We've dramatically increased American air strikes. And together with our Afghan partners, we've put the Taliban on the defensive.” 

He added: “All across this country we've won new victories against the terrorists, no matter what they call themselves or where they try to hide.”

The US vice president’s visit comes months after Trump unveiled his  new strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia.

“We've been on a long road together” he said. “We've both sacrificed much.” But, he added: “We are here to see this through.”

“And never doubt that your mission ─ your mission here in Afghanistan ─ is vital to the safety and security of the American people,” Pence said.

In his Kabul visit, Mike Pence held talks with the Afghan government leaders President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. 

He landed at Bagram Airfield at 7:16pm Kabul time, according to CNN. 

During the meeting, Ghani and Pence discussed the changes to the US strategy in Afghanistan, progress against Taliban militants and terrorist groups and the country's delicate political state of affairs.

President Ghani thanked the US forces for their support to the fight against terrorism, the Presidential Palace said in a statement on Friday.

Ghani said the Afghan-US relations is based on mutual and strategic interests between the two countries and that they would strengthen further.

He said the new US strategy on Afghanistan and South Asia is a good opportunity towards a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and region. He stressed on the implementation of the strategy.