Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

US, NATO Officials to Discuss Afghan Conflict

US, NATO Officials to  Discuss Afghan Conflict

KABUL - Top US and NATO military commander would meet this week to discuss the war in Afghanistan and the way forward, a media report said on Wednesday.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. arrived at the NATO headquarters on Tuesday and would spend the next few days assessing the US and NATO military footprint in Afghanistan, and the coalition’s ongoing operations in the country, a cording to the Washington Post.
Army Gen. John Nicholson, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, would also attend this week’s NATO ministerial, providing his assessment of the war, which is heading into its 16th year.
Gen. Nicholson, along with U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Joseph Votel, have called for an increase of U.S. troops into Afghanistan, ahead of this year’s fighting season in country.
President Trump has also reportedly handed authority to determine U.S. troop increases into Afghanistan and elsewhere to Defense Secretary James Mattis.
Pentagon and White House officials are reportedly weighing an increase of between 3,000 to 5,000 additional American troops. With NATO members expected to match that increase, as many as 10,000 new coalition forces could be heading into Afghanistan.
Roughly 9,000 U.S. service members are currently stationed in Afghanistan, conducting training and advising operations under the Resolute Support mission. A smaller number of US special operations units are also executing counterterrorism operations against the Taliban and a resurgent Islamic State. (Pajhwok)