WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump has authorised the Pentagon to take decisions regarding troop levels in Afghanistan, international media quoted a U.S. official.
Once the decision is announced, Defence Secretary James Mattis will able to decide whether to increase troops or not.
The decision is similar to one which was announced in April this year giving authority to U.S. military regarding setting troop levels in Iraq and Syria.
In late April, Trump similarly gave Mattis the authority to manage the U.S. troop levels in Iraq and Syria.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mattis informed a congressional panel that the review will be concluded in mid-July.
Mattis further told the Senate Armed Services Committee, “We are not winning in Afghanistan right now, and we will correct this as soon as possible.”
Currently, there are about 8,400 American troops deployed in Afghanistan to assist the Afghan military in its fight against the Taliban and the ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan.
