US to re-structure forces in Afghanistan to counter Taliban
Faced with the spiralling Taliban insurgency, the US will sanction a $20 billion plan to substantially expand the Afghan army and to restructure the NATO military command, pentagon officials said.
By PTI |
NEW YORK: Faced with the spiralling Taliban insurgency, the US will sanction a $20 billion plan to substantially expand the Afghan army and to restructure the NATO military command, pentagon officials said. US Defence Secretary Robert M Gates will endorse a $20 billion plan, initially proposed by the Afghan government, which will double the size of the Afghan National Army to more than 1,20,000 active-duty troops, over the period of next five years.
The officials said that Gates would seek contributions from allies to help underwrite the $20 billion cost over five years. Taken together,the two decisions are an acknowledgement of shortcomings that continue to hinder NATO -- and American- led operations in Afghanistan, reports said. With the war in Iraq still an obstacle to any immediate American troop increase in Afghanistan, the plan was described by officials as an attempt to increase allied and Afghan capabilities in advance of deploying the additional American brigades.
Under an order expected to be signed by Gates before the end of August, Gen David D McKiernan, the four-star Army officer who leads the 45,000-member NATO force, would be given command of most of the 19,000 American troops who have operated separately. The NATO force already includes about 15,000 other Americans.
The officials said that Gates would seek contributions from allies to help underwrite the $20 billion cost over five years. Taken together,the two decisions are an acknowledgement of shortcomings that continue to hinder NATO -- and American- led operations in Afghanistan, reports said. With the war in Iraq still an obstacle to any immediate American troop increase in Afghanistan, the plan was described by officials as an attempt to increase allied and Afghan capabilities in advance of deploying the additional American brigades.
Under an order expected to be signed by Gates before the end of August, Gen David D McKiernan, the four-star Army officer who leads the 45,000-member NATO force, would be given command of most of the 19,000 American troops who have operated separately. The NATO force already includes about 15,000 other Americans.
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