FILE PHOTO: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis speaks with the media before an enhanced honor cordon arrival of Greek Minister of Defense Panagiotis Kammenos at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo
October 19, 2018
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – It is too soon to say how an attack in Afghanistan that killed a top security chief would affect voter turnout in Saturday’s elections, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, but added that the U.S. military’s mission was unaltered.
“It’s the loss of a patriot,” Mattis said on Friday, referring to the death of General Abdul Razeq, the police commander in southern Kandahar.
“But we remain absolutely committed to an Afghan-led Afghan reconciliation. We need to find who’s done this. But right now, we are going toward the election and we will continue to defend the Afghan people.”
(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
