Kabul, Sept. 27 (Reuters): US defence secretary Jim Mattis visited Kabul today to pledge support for the government of President Ashraf Ghani, with the precarious security in the Afghan capital underlined by a rocket attack on the airport hours after he touched down. But a rocket attack on Kabul airport that injured five civilians and was claimed by both the Islamic State and Taliban insurgents highlighted the rebels' ability to strike the Western-backed government. Fighters holed up in a nearby building continued to resist security forces for hours, a spokesman for the interior minister said. As part of the new strategy, which will give US commanders greater freedom to use American firepower against the Taliban, Mattis has said the United States will send an additional 3,000 troops to help train Afghan security forces. The attack is expected to only strengthen the resolve of India, the US and Afghanistan's government against Pakistan-backed terrorism, officials in New Delhi said.

Source: The Telegraph September 27, 2017 18:33 UTC