Trump advisor Jared Kushner visiting Iraq (Lead)

Washington April 3 (IANS) US President Donald Trump s senior advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner is currently visiting Iraq as the American military is aiding a fight to retake Mosul city from the Islamic State (IS) terror group the media reported.

A senior administration official told The New York Times on Sunday that Kushner 36 is visiting the war-torn country on the invitation by General Joseph F. Dunford Jr. the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

However the purpose of Kushner s visit was not immediately clear.

Kushner has been acting as a shadow diplomat and his portfolio includes China Mexico Canada and the Middle East The Washington Post said.

The President in fact has specifically tasked Kushner with brokering peace in the region.

He also recently emerged as the head of the Office of American Innovation a team tasked with bringing a more business-minded approach to overhauling the federal government.

Since taking office Trump has spoken infrequently about Iraq or his policy there a CNN report said.

His comments last week that the US is doing very well in Iraq which remains besieged by violence drew particular notice and criticism.

The visit by Kushner comes after US military officials acknowledged that Washington was likely behind an airstrike that killed scores of Iraqi civilians in Mosul on March 17.

The incident renewed concern about civilian deaths in the wake of the US-led air campaign against the IS.

--IANS
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