US DEFENCE Secretary Jim Mattis flew into the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday, voicing Washington’s constant refrain that victory is possible while redefining what it might look like.

“We do look toward a victory in Afghanistan. Not a military victory: the victory will be a political reconciliation,” he said, hoping to involve the Taliban in a deal with the increasingly beleaguered Kabul government.

Mr Mattis, who commanded US troops in southern Afghanistan during the 2001 US-led invasion, said getting the Taliban to reconcile en masse may be “a bridge too far,” so the plan was to draw them in piecemeal.