U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the U.S., with its new strategy for breaking the deadlock with Taliban insurgents, is not going to give up the fight in Afghanistan.
"With our new conditions-based south Asia strategy we will be better postured to support [Afghanistan] as your forces turn the tide against the terrorists," Mattis said during a visit to Kabul Wednesday "We will not abandon Afghanistan to a merciless enemy trying to kill its way to power."
Hours after he arrived, a rocket attack on the Kabul airport killed one person and wounded several others. The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying the attack was aimed at Mattis' plane. Islamic State also claimed the attack.
Mattis was not near the airport at the time.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is also in Kabul, affirmed NATO's commitment as well to Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump's Afghanistan plan, announced last month, envisions a greater role for regional players, including India.
Kabul is the second stop for Mattis on a South Asia tour that began in New Delhi.
During his stop in the Indian capital, Mattis praised India's "invaluable" contributions to Afghanistan, and welcomed "further efforts to promote Afghanistan's democracy, stability, and security."
Mattis' Indian counterpart, Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, promised to strengthen cooperation with Kabul, though she ruled out sending any Indian troops there.
More troops
The U.S. plan calls for a larger military presence in Afghanistan. Mattis recently announced the U.S. would send another 3,000 American troops, bringing the total number in the country to over 14,000.
Trump's plan also calls for more bombs. Official military figures show the U.S. dropped more weapons (503) on Afghanistan during August than in any other single month since 2012.
In a stalemate after 16 years of fighting, U.S. troops are involved primarily in a non-combat role, providing advice and assistance to Afghan defense forces and institutions.
A U.S. military official, speaking on background, acknowledged the conflict is "still within the bounds of a stalemate," but said the Taliban has been prevented from further gains.
John Nicholson, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, also praised Trump's refusal to set timelines for troop withdrawal.
"All of this adds up to pressure on the Taliban to realize they cannot win and they need to join the peace process," Nicholson said. "They realize we're not leaving. And so this has put them in disarray."
Trump has stressed that the U.S. troops will only be withdrawn based on conditions on the ground, and has refused to set fixed withdrawal dates, as did his predecessor, Barack Obama.
The conditions-based approach has been welcomed by Afghan officials, who say it provides more certainty and won't allow the Taliban to wait out the timelines.
"They haven't given timelines or withdrawal dates, which is a positive thing," said Ahmad Shah Katawazai, a senior Afghan diplomat in Washington.
"I am very optimistic about this, and we welcome the current strategy," he told VOA.
But Trump officials have refused to say exactly what metrics they will use to define success in Afghanistan, leading some to worry about the threat of a perpetual war.
"That's what I'm afraid of," said Shamila Chaudhary, who worked on Afghanistan and Pakistan policy in Obama's National Security Council. "That without actually announcing or detailing what the conditions are, that there will always be enough of a reason for us to stay in Afghanistan."
The Trump administration hopes its more assertive stance in Afghanistan will result in enough military gains to pressure the Taliban to the negotiating table.
But for now, there seems to be little reason for the insurgents to lay down their weapons. Currently, the U.S.-backed Kabul government controls only around 60 percent of the country; the Taliban controls or contests the other 40 percent.
Pakistan
Another key part of the White House strategy is putting pressure on Pakistan to end its alleged support for Afghan militant groups.
Like the Obama administration, Trump officials have put increasing pressure on Pakistan – a continuity welcomed by Afghan officials.
"We didn't put enough pressure on Pakistan to prevent them from supporting militant groups," says Katawazai. "I hope the current administration uses more of a stick policy instead of a carrot."
Mattis and Sitharaman addressed that issue on Tuesday.
"The very same forces which find safe haven in Pakistan have been the ones who have hit New York, as much as Mumbai," Sitharaman said, adding she raised the matter directly with Mattis.
Though Mattis did not mention Pakistan directly, he added: "There can be no tolerance of terrorist safe havens."
Mattis flew directly over Pakistan on his flight from New Delhi to Kabul. U.S. officials denied that was meant as a slight to Pakistan, and insisted Islamabad should not worry about expanded Indian involvement in Afghanistan.
"Pakistan has come out recently again, saying they are fighting the terrorists," Mattis told reporters. "I think Pakistan will find nothing out of line with India and the United States' alignment in the same fight."
