Prime Minister Stephen Harper is adamant that he will not support a parliamentary vote on extending Canada's mission in Afghanistan.

"We're not going to have votes on commitments already made," Harper told a news conference in Islamabad Tuesday, after meeting Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Harper earlier sparked confusion on the issue when he cited a Conservative election pledge to hold a vote on all future military deployments.

"These things obviously will be put to votes in the future. That's a commitment we've made," Harper told reporters after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.

However, after checking with the prime minister, aides told reporters the Tory promise did not apply to Canada's mission in Afghanistan, which Harper has suggested may continue for years.

In a speech to 1,100 Canadian troops in Kandahar Monday, Harper reaffirmed Ottawa's commitment and vowed to never "cut and run" from Afghanistan as long as he remained prime minister.

Canada 'essential' to democracy

Before wrapping up his surprise two-day morale-boosting trip to Afghanistan Tuesday, Harper visited Afghan president Hamid Karzai at his presidential palace in Kabul.

With U.S. military helicopters flying overhead, Karzai asked Harper to deliver a message of thanks to Canadians and said their aid was essential in building his country's democracy and economy.

"Please convey to your people, to the people of Canada, the immense gratitude of the Afghan people for what your country, your people have done for us," he said.

"For giving the lives of your sons, for contributing in money, for contributing in soldiers and for being one of the biggest helpers in Afghanistan."

Harper responded by saying Canada's military mission in Afghanistan made the world a safer place.

"Unless we control the security situation in countries like Afghanistan we will see our own security diminished," Harper said.

It was Harper's first meeting with a head of state since the Tories won the federal election on Jan. 23.

Omar Samad, Afghan Ambassador to Canada, described Harper's visit to Afghanistan as "very significant."

Appearing on CTV's Canada AM Tuesday, Samad said the visit "was not only a morale booster for the Canadians, but also a very strong signal from Canada and its people that they are in Afghanistan to help us rebuild this country."

Lt. Mark Macintyre, on the line from Kandahar, told AM that Harper "met with a wide spectrum of soldiers" and that "it was quite a joy for the soldiers to interact with him."

Harper's visit, shrouded in secrecy for security reasons, was aimed not only at rallying the troops, but at shoring up support at home for the Afghan mission, which has seen ten Canadian soldiers and one diplomat killed.

Taliban insurgents have stepped up attacks in recent months in a bid to drive out foreign forces and defeat Karzai's Western-backed government.

Shortly after the meeting with Karzai, Harper left Afghanistan for Pakistan, where he met with Pakistani leader Shaukat Aziz, before then heading home.

In Islamabad, Aziz praised Harper's "mature" response to the controversy over the "blasphemous" cartoons from Denmark, which caused protests worldwide.