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Trump to Let Pentagon Set Troop Levels in Afghanistan | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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US secretary of defense Jim Mattis. Photo: AFP


Kabul, London – US President Donald Trump has granted the Pentagon authority to set troop levels in Afghanistan, in a a move that could lead to the deployment of thousands more soldiers.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said now he can directly adjust US troop numbers in Afghanistan.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official told AFP “The White House has done the same that it did with Iraq and Syria, which is to grant the secretary of defence the authority to set troop levels,” referring to recent adjustments Trump has approved for the fight against ISIS group in those two countries.

Under Barack Obama, troop levels in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria were closely managed by the White House and commanders complained they felt shackled by the strictures.

The development came just hours after Mattis gave lengthy testimony to lawmakers, some of whom were exasperated at how long it has taken for Trump to come up with a new strategy in Afghanistan.

The official said the final decision to give Mattis the power to adjust troop levels actually came during his testimony, at which he said America still is “not winning” in Afghanistan.

The “Taliban had a good year last year, they are trying to have a good one this year,” Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee at a hearing about the Pentagon’s budget.

“Right now, I believe the enemy is surging.”

Mattis’ latest assessment comes nearly 16 years after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and amid a war that continues to claim the lives of US troops each year — and those of thousands of local forces and civilians.

US military commanders have been pushing for a new strategy that could see thousands of additional soldiers deploy to Afghanistan to help train local forces.

Media reports have said Mattis is considering asking for 3,000 to 5,000 additional US and NATO troops, but the defence chief has said little on the matter.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, who mainly serve in a training and advisory capacity.