KABUL (TCA) — Afghanistan wants the United States to send more troops to help the Afghan government battle the Taliban and the Islamic State extremist group, Afghanistan’s foreign minister has said, RFE/RL reported.
Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani on March 21 welcomed a recent call by U.S. General John Nicholson, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, for a few thousand more troops from the United States or other coalition partners to help break the stalemate in the war-torn country.
The Trump administration has not yet said if it will send more forces in response to Nicholson’s comments. Some 8,400 U.S. troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan, performing counterterrorism operations against insurgents and training the Afghan National Army.
Citing a deadly attack this month on a military hospital in Kabul, Rabbani said Afghanistan needed U.S. help in addressing “military shortfalls,” through increased training, ground and air capabilities, and reconnaissance and intelligence support.
“We stand confident that the new U.S. administration under President Trump will remain strategically engaged and continue its support,” Rabbani said at the Atlantic Council conference ahead of a gathering in Washington of the U.S.-led coalition against IS.
Rabbani also said that Russia was planning a 12-country conference on Afghanistan.
Rabbani said the United States had been invited but didn’t know if it would attend. The State Department said it hadn’t yet decided on its participation.
Rabbani said the discussions would follow up on six-country talks held in mid-February involving China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Iran. He said he did not think the Taliban would be invited.
Rabbani said Russia and Iran had both told Kabul they have been in contact with the Taliban to encourage a return to the negotiating table, but deny providing the Taliban material support.
