Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Afghans Taking Steps to Control Insider Attacks: Mattis

Afghans Taking Steps to Control Insider Attacks: Mattis

KABUL -  Afghanistan has taken measures, including improved vetting of local forces, to minimise insider attacks, says Defense Secretary Jim Mattis
President Ashraf Ghani took up the issue -- a major coalition concern -- during a meeting with him in Kabul last week, the secretary told journalists at the Pentagon on Tuesday.
Radio Free Europe quoted Mattis as saying Afghan leaders had stepped up security checks and training of local forces to identify any Afghans who had been radicalised.
Mattis said: "There's increased vetting going on...they are bringing in more people that we have helped train to know how to do it, to make certain we're catching people who have been radicalized."
One US soldier was shot dead and two others were wounded in July in the capital of central Uruzgan province. Another US soldier was killed by an Afghan policeman in Logar.
During an unannounced visit to Kabul on Friday, Mattis met government leaders and the new commander of US and coalition forces, Gen. Scott Miller.
Mattis said the path to reconciliation with the Taliban and a sustained NATO campaign were the key subjects discussed during his meetings with Afghan leaders.
Mattis said the Trump administration was receiving mixed messages from Taliban. While intensifying attacks in some parts of the country, the insurgents had also evinced an interest in reconciliation, he concluded. (Pajhwok)