US deploying 13,000 additional troops to Afghanistan

Though the Obama administration is yet to finalise its "right strategy" for the Af-Pak region, the White House has quietly approved an additional deployment of some 13,000 troops to Afghanistan, a media report said here today.

The additional deployment of personnel is in addition to the 21,000 more troops sent to Afghanistan as was announced by US president Barack Obama in March this year.

However, General Steanley McChrystal, the US and Nato commander in Afghanistan, has sought an additional 40,000 troops to fight the al-Qaeda and the Taliban terrorists in the war-ravaged country.

The Washington Post, quoting unnamed defence officials, said that in an unannounced move, the White House has authorised — and the Pentagon is deploying — at least 13,000 troops beyond that number.

"The additional troops are primarily support forces, including engineers, medical personnel, intelligence experts and military police. Their deployment has received little mention by officials at the Pentagon and the White House, who have spoken more publicly about the combat troops who have been sent to Afghanistan," the leading US daily said.