US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday downplayed the idea of sending private military contractors to Afghanistan to replace American forces.

"When Americans put their nation's credibility on the line, privatizing it is probably not a wise idea," Mattis told Pentagon reporters.

Erik Prince, the former head of a controversial private military firm once known as Blackwater, has repeatedly touted such a plan as a way of reducing the US military footprint in Afghanistan after 17 years of war.

His sister is Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

Currently, about 14,000 US troops are in Afghanistan, providing the main component of the NATO mission to support and train local forces.

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Afghan officials say Islamic State leader killed by airstrikes
Kabul (AFP) Aug 26, 2018
The leader of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan was killed by airstrikes over the weekend along with 10 other people, government officials said Sunday following a string of deadly attacks by the extremist group. The intelligence agency said Saad Arhabi died in a joint operation with coalition forces late Saturday in the group's eastern stronghold in Nangarhar province near the border with Pakistan. "The Emir of Daesh in Afghanistan along with 10 others was killed," said a statement by the Na ... read more