The United States is preparing to increase the number of its military forces in Afghanistan in 2015, a new report says. Informed sources told the Reuters news agency in a report published on Tuesday that Washington may send hundreds of additional troops, but the final numbers are still being discussed. The move comes under the pretext of filling a gap left in the NATO mission in Afghanistan by other contributing nations. "If they hadn't done that, the mission would have lost bases," the source said. The so-called "bridging solution" envisages providing up to 1,000 extra troops until other countries step forward later in the year. The White House claims the remaining American troops will be part of the so-called “Resolute Support” mission and only involved in training Afghan forces. Back in May, President Barack Obama had announced that US troop levels would be cut to 9,800 by the end of the year, by half again in 2015 and to a normal embassy presence with a security assistance office in Kabul by the end of 2016. Obama also said in May that the American military would not have any combat role in Afghanistan next year. "There will be 9,800 troops, plus at least a few hundred above and beyond that," the same source said. The bulk of Western combat troops are to leave the country at the end of this year when the mission officially winds up after 13 years of war against Taliban and its al-Qaeda allies. Overall, NATO members plan to keep 12,000 troops in Afghanistan by 2015. The New York Times reported on Friday that Obama secretly had signed an order which allowed US troops to be involved in combat operations in Afghanistan throughout 2015, a new report says. According to the report, the new authorization would also let US jets, bombers, and drones be used to aid ground troops. The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country, despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/3016
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