KABUL (SW): The U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis during his unannounced trip to Afghanistan said on Monday that the year 2017 is going to be another tough year for the valiant Afghan security forces and the international troops here.
Mattis visited the conflict-riddled country to take notes for his assessment of the situation, and advise the Trump administration in Washington about likely surge of the U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Flanked by the U.S. top Commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson, Secretary Mattis said there are no illusions in Washington associated with the mission in Afghanistan.
He visited Afghanistan three days after one of the deadliest Taliban assault on an Afghan army headquarters in northern Mazar-e-Sharif city which saw at least 140 soldiers killed. The Arg (Presidential Palace) in Kabul has said in a statement President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met with the visiting US Secretary '"ahead of expected decision on more US troops for Afghanistan".
Gen. John Nicholson, has told the U.S. Congress he believes the war is at a "stalemate" and has suggested that the NATO coalition needs several thousand more troops to turn the tide. There are approximately 8,400 U.S. personnel serving in Afghanistan.
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