US secretary of state makes surprise visit to Afghanistan

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has landed in Afghanistan in a brief, unannounced trip to discuss Washington's new war strategy with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, according to the American embassy.

Tillerson met with President Ghani on Monday at Bagram Airfield north of Kabul, America's largest base in Afghanistan, where he only spent two hours before departing for Qatar. 

“The Secretary stated that the new U.S. strategy for South Asia makes clear the United States’ commitment to working with the government of Afghanistan and with partners across the region to achieve peace in Afghanistan and deny safe havens to terrorists who threaten that goal,” the US embassy in Kabul said in a statement.

“President Ghani reiterated his support for the new US strategy and emphasized his government’s commitment to reforms aimed at ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of all Afghans.”

"Clearly we have to continue to fight against the Taliban, against others, in order for them to understand they will never win a military victory," Tillerson told reporters after the meeting that was also attended by Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

It was Tillerson's first trip to Afghanistan as secretary of state.

On August 22, Tillerson undermined President Donald Trump’s promise to win the Afghan war and defeat the Taliban, saying Washington might not succeed in the war.

“I think the president was clear this entire effort was intended to put pressure on the Taliban, to have the Taliban understand that you will not win a battlefield victory,” Tillerson said then. “We may not win one, but neither will you.”

His remarks came one day after Trump said he would prolong the military intervention in the South Asian country, which he once described as a “complete waste.”

The United States -- under Republican George W. Bush’s presidency -- and its allies invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban regime from power, but after more than one and-a-half-decade, the foreign troops are still deployed to the country.

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After taking office in 2009, President Barack Obama, a Democrat, vowed to end the Afghan war -- one of the longest conflicts in US history – but he failed to keep his promise.

Trump, who has spoken against the Afghan war, has dubbed the 2001 invasion and following occupation of Afghanistan as "Obama's war."

But now Trump has announced to deploy thousands of more troops to the war-torn country, signaling a policy shift.

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