US Defense Secretary Mattis makes unannounced visit to Afghan capital

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has arrived in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit as Washington is pressing ahead with efforts to hold peace talks with the Taliban.

According to Press TV, Mattis was accompanied by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Joseph Dunford.

Mattis, on his second visit to Afghanistan in recent months, will meet with President Ashraf Ghani and the new US Commander for US forces General Scott Miller.

Before flying to the capital Kabul, Mattis said that there is “still hard fighting but right now we have more indications that reconciliation is no longer just a shimmer out there, no longer just a mirage.” 

He said there was now “some framework” for talks and open lines of communication, but did not elaborate.

Mattis arrived in Kabul from Delhi where he and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with their Indian counterparts.

Pompeo visited Pakistan on Wednesday where he held talks with new Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Mattis's unannounced visit comes as little progress has been made by Afghan or US forces against the Taliban.

The militant group accepted an unprecedented ceasefire in June, but later rejected a second proposal for halting hostilities.

Afghanistan has witnessed a wave of deadly attacks by the Taliban in recent month.

A twin bomb attack in Kabul on Wednesday was just the latest in a string of deadly assaults that underscored the challenges facing Afghanistan’s beleaguered security forces. At least 26 people were killing over 9 others injured in the attack.

Russia had been preparing to host peace talks in Moscow with participation of 12 countries, including the US, and Taliban representatives.

The peace talks, planned for September 4, however, had been cancelled after President Ashraf Ghani told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Kabul needed more time to come up with a “consolidated position” on the issue.

ME