Mattis Discusses Peace with NUG Leaders
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made a surprise visit to Kabul on Friday and held talks with Afghan government leaders on a peace process with Taliban insurgents.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made a surprise visit to Kabul on Friday and held talks with Afghan government leaders on a peace process with Taliban insurgents.
Mattis met with President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, the presidential palace said. Also among the topics, it said, were Afghanistan’s relations with neighboring Pakistan, which Kabul has long accused of harboring militants who carry out attacks on Afghan and U.S. troops.
“they discussed the peace process, the positive impact of the South Asia strategy, reforms in the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, the upcoming elections, counterterrorism and dialogue with Pakistan,” said Haroon Chakhansuri, a spokesman for president Ghani.
Joining Mattis was Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Their visit to Afghanistan lasted a little more than six hours and included a meeting with Army Gen. Austin S. Miller, who took over as commander of U.S. and NATO forces in the country Sunday.
“The most important work that has to be done is beginning the political process and reconciliation,” Dunford told reporters traveling with him.
“What we are trying to do in the military dimension is convince the Taliban that they cannot win on the battlefield and that they must engage in a peace process,” he said.
This comes as US Defense Secretary and the country’s joint chiefs of staff have recently traveled to Pakistan and India.
The United States cancelled its $ 900 million military aid to Pakistan, calling on Islamabad to take practical steps against terrorism.
