Tillerson brings surprise visit to Iraq

baghdad - The United States Secretary of State Tillerson has made surprise visits to Afghanistan and Iraq. He spoke on the air force base of Bagram north of Kabul and Baghdad on Monday with the leaders of both countries.

In advance, security was not given to any lightning visits.

In Afghanistan, he spoke with President Ashraf Ghani about a third country, Pakistan, which, according to Tillerson, offers a safe shelter to all kinds of terrorists. This makes it possible for the Taliban to ever make a chance to be part of a government in Afghanistan. And that, according to the governor, can only be said if they swear the violence.

In Baghdad, Tillerson spoke among others with Prime Minister Al-Abadi, who he spoke in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Both the Iraqi Prime Minister and the Afghan President also spoke of an alliance that the United States is seeking against Iran. No details were provided on this.