U.S. to send 3,500 additional troops to Afghanistan

[Zibago]

U.S. to send 3,500 additional troops to Afghanistan

Reuters Staff

2 MIN READ



FILE PHOTO: U.S. Marines walk inside their base after they are back from training with Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers in Helmand province, Afghanistan July 6, 2017. REUTERS/ Omar Sobhani
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will send about 3,500 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, a figure broadly in line with expectations as the United States boosts support for the Afghan military.

The disclosure by the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, comes as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Joseph Dunford hold closed door briefings with members of Congress about President Donald Trump’s regional strategy.

The Pentagon said it would not comment on additional troop numbers until Mattis makes an announcement.


If confirmed, it would bring the total number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to about 14,500.

After a months-long review of his Afghanistan policy, Trump committed the United States last week to an open-ended conflict in the country and promised a stepped-up campaign against Taliban insurgents.

Last week Mattis said he had signed orders to send additional troops to Afghanistan but did not specify the size of the force, saying he first needed to brief Congress.

U.S. officials have for months told Reuters that Trump had given Mattis the authority to send about 4,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.

The U.S. presence in Afghanistan peaked at more than 100,000 troops in 2011, when Washington was under domestic political pressure to draw down the costly operation.


Some U.S. officials have told Reuters they questioned the benefit of sending more troops to Afghanistan because any politically palatable number would not be enough to turn the tide, much less create stability and security.

To date, more than 2,300 Americans have been killed and over 17,000 wounded in Afghanistan.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...dditional-troops-to-afghanistan-idUSKCN1BH2KW

 

[saiyan0321]

Are they sure? They have been lying about the 8500 figure not to mention the contractors they employ.

 

[Imran Khan]

bad move they should care US lives not to be wasted .

 

[Zibago]

bad move they should care US lives not to be wasted .

Political move which will have very little effect on ground

 

[YeBeWarned]

more support for ISIS and TTP coming to Afghanistan .. brace yourself

 

[BATMAN]

Pakistanis should prepare to bear the transit burden of additional US troops.

 

[Rank]

Keep sending troops and Talibz keep making broasts

 

[El Sidd]

Uncle Sam should follow scorch earth policy in Afghanistan

Or

Find a viable political solution.


Whatever the decision. It should be only concentrated in Afghanistan.


International community should do more in Afghanistan

 

[Eagle_storm]

some useful advices


for allegation against pakistan

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.


for coming to afghanistan

He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

 

[StandForInsaf]

Stupid US why it wants to stay in AFG , it will only increase deaths of US contractors and soldiers .

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

Stupid US why it wants to stay in AFG , it will only increase deaths of US contractors and soldiers .

Only if it could deer OBOR!!!! Whatever the anti-OBOR does (e.g., standoff @Doklam etc.), pro-OBOR does 1K times more (e.g., h-bomb by NK etc.)!!!!!

 

[Eagle_storm]

more support for ISIS and TTP coming to Afghanistan .. brace yourself

positive on isis
negative on ttp.

 

[Arsalan 345]

americans pagal hochuke hn hahaha.

 

[Eagle_storm]

welcome


Taliban Says Suicide Attack On U.S. Base In Afghanistan Over Leaflet 'Insult'
September 06, 2017 18:30 GMT

Afghan National Army soldiers and police keep watch outside the Bagram Airfield entrance gate. (file photo)



A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle has blown himself up outside the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan, Afghan officials say.

The Taliban claimed the September 6 attack was in revenge for a U.S. leaflet deemed highly offensive to Muslims.

U.S. and Afghan authorities confirmed several people were wounded in the late afternoon attack at Bagram Airfield, some 55 kilometers north of Kabul.

The Taliban claimed responsibility and said it was in retaliation for "their insult to the Islamic creed."

A spokesman for the governor of the Parwan Province, where Bagram is located, said that "a suicide attacker on a motorbike detonated himself at the third gate of Bagram air base."

"The attacker was riding a motorcycle. Three wounded can be confirmed," Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said.

NATO's Resolute Support mission said in a statement that "an explosion" had occurred "outside an entry-control point" to Bagram that had caused a "small number of casualties."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the attacker had killed and wounded "over 20 soldiers."

The incident came hours after U.S. forces apologized for dropping leaflets in Parwan Province that allegedly depicted a lion chasing a white dog -- the same color as the Taliban's flag.

The Islamic statement of faith -- "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah" -- was superimposed on the dog's body.

Major General James Linder, who heads the U.S. and NATO special-operations forces in Afghanistan, issued a statement apologizing for the leaflet design, which he said was an "error."

NATO forces frequently drop leaflets over large swathes of Afghanistan in an effort to persuade locals against supporting insurgents.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP

 

[TMA]

more support for ISIS and TTP coming to Afghanistan .. brace yourself

Bingo!

Stupid US why it wants to stay in AFG , it will only increase deaths of US contractors and soldiers .

The Zionists don't care; what is cared for is a base for destabilization and containment.