MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The United States is pondering increasing the number ofits military personnel in Afghanistan by 1,000 more troops this spring,Washington Post newspaper reported, citing the sources in the US military.
According to the Washington Post newspaper, US Defense Secretary JamesMattis has not yet signed the relevant decree, however, the move is aimedat enhancing the Afghan forces so that they may counter the Taliban.
The total number of troops is reportedly expected to reach 15,000in spring, with some of the personnel present being returned as new forcesare to come. The US Army leadership backs the proposed increase of troops,the newspaper added.
Western Coalition Not Doing Much to Curb Drugs in Afghanistan: RussianDeputy FMlink>In August, US President Donald Trumplink>announceda new Afghanistan strategy, in which he pledged to continue US supportfor the Afghan government and military. Trump also said the authority of UStroops to target terrorists in Afghanistanlink> wouldbe expanded and he approved sending an additional 4,000 troops to thecountry.
The United States has been in Afghanistan since October 2001. During thiscampaign, 2,35 thousand of US servicemen were killed, and more than 20,000were injured. As of September 30, 2017, there were 15,282 US soldiersin the country, as well as 1,202 civilian employees of the Defense Ministry.