Rockets rain down on Kabul airport hours after Pentagon, NATO chiefs arrive

KABUL: Several rockets exploded in and around Kabul airport on Wednesday hours after US Defence Secretary James Mattis and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in the Afghan capital on an unannounced visit, police said.

There were no reports of casualties or damage and Mattis was not near the airport when the rockets exploded.

Reports in the Afghan media stated that around 20-30 rockets were fired at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The airport was evacuated following the attack and all flights stood suspended, said officials.  

Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack. Its AMAQ news agency said its “infiltrators” used SPG-9 rockets and mortars for the attack.

First visit after new US policy 

The visit comes after US President Donald Trump announced a new strategy for Afghanistan, promising a stepped-up military campaign against Taliban insurgents who have gained ground against US-backed Afghan government forces as they seek to reestablish control after their 2001 ouster.

Mattis has said that the United States will send an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to help train Afghan security forces fighting the Taliban and other militant groups.

Currently there are about 8,400 US troops in Afghanistan. 

Most are advising Afghan forces but some are involved in operations against the Taliban.