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Mattis Calls Gen. Raziq’s Death A “Tragic Loss”

The US Defense Secretary James Mattis said Friday the killing of a powerful police chief in southern Afghanistan just two days before elections is unlikely to fundamentally weaken the security situation.

Mattis commented on the attack in Kandahar during a break in meetings at an Asian security conference in Singapore. 

The shootout left Kandahar police chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq and provincial NDS chief Gen. Mubin Hassankhail dead and few other senior officials wounded. 

Mattis called the death of Gen. Raziq a “tragic loss of a patriot.” But he said he believes the Afghan security forces have matured to the point where they can continue fighting the Taliban without him.

“We remain absolutely committed to an Afghan-led Afghan reconciliation,” he said. “Right now, we’re going toward the election and we will continue to defend the Afghan people.”

He said he had not spoken to the top US commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Scott Miller, since the attack. 

Miller was present during the shooting but uninjured. Mattis said it’s unclear how the attack will affect voter turnout in Saturday’s parliamentary elections.

“Terrorism can have a short-term effect,” Mattis said. “I think it’s too early to say whether it will have any real effect on the upcoming election. I’m not willing to say that right now.”

Some changes have been brought to this story for style purposes. It was originally published by The Associated Press.

Mattis Calls Gen. Raziq’s Death A “Tragic Loss”

The US Defense Secretary says they remain committed to an Afghan-led Afghan reconciliation.

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The US Defense Secretary James Mattis said Friday the killing of a powerful police chief in southern Afghanistan just two days before elections is unlikely to fundamentally weaken the security situation.

Mattis commented on the attack in Kandahar during a break in meetings at an Asian security conference in Singapore. 

The shootout left Kandahar police chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq and provincial NDS chief Gen. Mubin Hassankhail dead and few other senior officials wounded. 

Mattis called the death of Gen. Raziq a “tragic loss of a patriot.” But he said he believes the Afghan security forces have matured to the point where they can continue fighting the Taliban without him.

“We remain absolutely committed to an Afghan-led Afghan reconciliation,” he said. “Right now, we’re going toward the election and we will continue to defend the Afghan people.”

He said he had not spoken to the top US commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Scott Miller, since the attack. 

Miller was present during the shooting but uninjured. Mattis said it’s unclear how the attack will affect voter turnout in Saturday’s parliamentary elections.

“Terrorism can have a short-term effect,” Mattis said. “I think it’s too early to say whether it will have any real effect on the upcoming election. I’m not willing to say that right now.”

Some changes have been brought to this story for style purposes. It was originally published by The Associated Press.

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