Militants attack Kabul airport during Mattis visit U.S. strike kills civilians
James Mattis
The strategy will give U.S. commanders greater freedom to use American firepower against the militants but  speaking a few hours before the air strike   Mattis  said they would do âeverything humanly possibleâ to prevent civilian casualties.
âWe are here to protect the Afghan people while we attack the terrorists â  he  told a joint news conference with Ghani and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg  accusing militants of hiding behind women and children.
 NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT
Afghanistan's president Ashraf Ghani (L) and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis (R)  attend a news conference in Kabul  Afghanistan. September 27  2017. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
 Mattis  said the Taliban could not hope for a military victory and promised a more âholisticâ approach without fixed timetables and involving other countries in the region  including Pakistan. âI want to reinforce to the Taliban that the only path to peace and political legitimacy for them is through a negotiated settlement â  he  said.
 Mattis  has said the United States will send an additional 3 000 troops to help train Afghan security forces  which are focusing on building up the air force and special forces  but  he  gave few details of what would change.
âI donât want to tell the enemy exactly what we are doing but the whole point is to make certain we have a compelling battlefield advantage over anything the Taliban tries to mass against your forces â  he  said.
The strategy will give U.S. commanders greater freedom to use American firepower against the militants but  speaking a few hours before the air strike   Mattis  said they would do âeverything humanly possibleâ to prevent civilian casualties.
âWe are here to protect the Afghan people while we attack the terrorists â  he  told a joint news conference with Ghani and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg  accusing militants of hiding behind women and children.
 NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT
Afghanistan's president Ashraf Ghani (L) and U.S. Defense Secretary  [TGT]  (R)  attend a news conference in Kabul  Afghanistan. September 27  2017. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
 Mattis  said the Taliban could not hope for a military victory and promised a more âholisticâ approach without fixed timetables and involving other countries in the region  including Pakistan. âI want to reinforce to the Taliban that the only path to peace and political legitimacy for them is through a negotiated settlement â  he  said.
 Mattis  has said the United States will send an additional 3 000 troops to help train Afghan security forces  which are focusing on building up the air force and special forces  but  he  gave few details of what would change.
âI donât want to tell the enemy exactly what we are doing but the whole point is to make certain we have a compelling battlefield advantage over anything the Taliban tries to mass against your forces â  he  said.