Washington, June 14: US President Donald Trump has given Defence Secretary Jim Mattis the authority to determine troop levels in Afghanistan, media reports said Wednesday, paving the way for sending more American forces to the war-torn country.
Such an authorisation was granted to Mattis by Trump Tuesday. Mattis, according to The New York Times, is believed to favour sending several thousands more troops to Afghanistan, but has not taken a final decision in this regard.
The US currently has some 8,400 troops in Afghanistan. Army General John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, told Congress that he could use an infusion of US and allied troops to bolster support for the Afghan army.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon was considering a request for roughly 3,000 more troops, mainly for training and advising. Mattis, the former commander of all Middle East wars, said Tuesday that the US is not winning the war in Afghanistan. Neither the White House nor the Pentagon confirmed the news.
“I don’t have anything I can comment on that right now. I would refer you to Secretary Mattis at this point,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters.
Press Trust of India
