No casualties or damages have been reported in the Kabul rocket attack claimed by the Taliban. (File)
Hours after US Defense Secretary James Mattis landed in Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul,
six rockets hit the northern part of Kabul International Airport. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.
No casualties or damages have been reported. The head of the airport said the missiles were fired from Deh Sabz district of Kabul, according to TOLONews.
The Pentagon chief wrapped up his visit to New Delhi and made an announced visit to Kabul 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 U.S.-backed Afghan government forces as they seek to reestablish Islamic law after their 2001 ouster.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, after a meeting with Mr Mattis, said on Tuesday, "There shall not be any Indian boots on the ground in Afghanistan." New Delhi asserted that India will continue its development and medical assistance in the war-torn nation.
In Kabul, James Mattis, along with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, will meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other senior officials to discuss the US-led NATO "train and assist" mission designed to strengthen Afghanistan's military so it can defend the country on its own. The Afghan President said the crisis reaction unit is handling the situation after the rocket attack.
In New Delhi, Mr Mattis, the first high-ranking official of the Trump administration to visit India, sought greater Indian involvement in helping to stabilise Afghanistan. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held delegation-level talks with Ms Sitharaman.
(With inputs from agencies)