Kabul airport attack: Taliban targets US defence secretary James Mattis

NEW DELHI: Terror attack in and around Kabul airport greeted US defence secretary James Mattis as he arrived in the Afghan capital on Wednesday on an unannounced visit from Delhi and delayed Afghan CEO Abdullah Abdullah's trip to the Indian capital for mega Indo-Afghan Trade and Investment show.

It was not a coincidence that the attack happened when India-US are engaged in efforts to stabilise Afghanistan through mega trade meet and Russian President's Special Envoy Zamir Kabulov met Foreign Secretary here to discuss Indo-Russian plans for the landlocked country.

The trade show was inaugurated on Wednesday evening by Indian Finance Minister and Afghan Commerce Minister.

Abdullah Abdullah is now expected to arrive here on Thursday morning for trade meet and series of officials meetings. The attack without doubt was a signal to India's expanding footprints in Afghanistan much to discomfort of Pakistan.

According to ISIS AMAQ news agency, IS “infiltrators” used SPG-9 rockets and mortars to target Kabul airport. Five people were injured in the attack.

Mattis is in Kabul to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani along with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ( NATO) chief Jens Stoltenberg to discuss NATO’s “train and assist” mission designed to strengthen Afghanistan’s military so it can defend the country on its own.

Mattis is the first member of US President Donald Trump’s cabinet to visit Afghanistan since Washington announced to stay course in that country. Key focus of Mattis visit to Delhi was also on efforts to stabilise Afghanistan.