KABUL – *US Defense Secretary James Mattis held discussions with PresidentAshraf Ghani during his trip to Kabul on Tuesday. *

CEO Abdullah Abdullah, National Security Council Chief Mohammad Hanif Atmarand other high-ranking officials also attended the Ghani-Mattis meeting.

Addressing all those present, Ghani said: “Let me begin with the tribute toyour fallen heroes. And please convey our gratitude as a nation, as a stateto the Gold Star families. You spend a lot of time with them and theirsacrifice will never be forgotten.”

He also discussed the peace offer that has been made to the Taliban and theoffer of comprehensive talks to Pakistan. The president said these offershad been made possible because of the Trump Administration’s South Asiastrategy.

“Because of the game-changing nature of the strategy we, the government ofnational unity, offered peace to the Taliban and a comprehensive dialogueto Pakistan. These two steps could have only been taken in the context ofthe South Asia strategy,” Ghani said at the meeting.

The US defense secretary’s visit to Kabul comes two weeks after the KabulProcess conference in which the Afghan government announced a peace offerto the Taliban.

Addressing reporters, on Tuesday Mattis meanwhile said the United States ispicking up signs of interest from Taliban elements in exploring thepossibility of talks with Kabul to end the more than 16-year-old war inAfghanistan.