President Trump has made military strategy decision on Afghanistan, confirms Defence Secy

Washington [US], August 21 (ANI): United States Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has confirmed that a decision has been made on a military strategy in Afghanistan.

"I am very comfortable that the strategic process was sufficiently rigorous and did not go in with a preset position. The President has made a decision. As he said, he wants to be the one to announce it to the American people," the Washington Post quoted Mattis as saying.

He further said that United States President Donald Trump will announce the details of a review of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and South Asia.

Meanwhile the White House said that President Trump will announce a "path forward" on military strategy in Afghanistan on Monday.

Trump is scheduled to address the military and American people from Fort Myer in Arlington, Va., White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a brief statement.

President Trump on August 19 alluded that he has made a decision on the U.S. strategy for Afghanistan following high level meeting with his national security team at Camp David.

"Important day spent at Camp David with our very talented Generals and military leaders. Many decisions made, including on Afghanistan," Trump had tweeted.

The meeting was attended by U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Director of CIA Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster.

Earlier, President Trump had termed Afghanistan issue as `a mess` which he took over from the previous administration and said his administration is getting close to a decision on an updated strategy for the war in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban has sent an "open letter" to President Trump, calling on the United States to leave Kabul rather than increase the number of troops to end America`s longest war of 17 years in Afghanistan.

Post the Pentagon and World Trade Center attacks in 2001, the United States sent in troops to oust the Taliban government because it sheltered the operation's mastermind, Osama bin Laden. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI