Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the country is committed to Afghanistan “for the long haul” as he addressed troops on a visit to the war zone, the Australian newspaper reported.

“We from Australia will remain for the long haul,” Rudd said, according to the newspaper. A withdrawal would allow terrorism to spread, he said, the Australian reported.

Rudd, whose overnight trip to see Australian soldiers at Kamp Holland was kept secret, held talks with the U.S. chief of NATO operations in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, who wants more troops for the mission, the Australian reported.

The prime minister’s visit follows comments by Australian Defense Minister John Faulkner last month, who said he and military chiefs were examining how to speed up completing the training of local forces in Afghanistan.

To contact the reporter on this story: Angus Whitley in Sydney at awhitley1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 11, 2009 16:35 EST