US General Calls For More Troops In Afghanistan

US General John Nicholson plans to request more troops in Afghanistan to prevent the country from becoming a terrorist safe haven and to break the stalemate between Afghan forces. 

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Nicholson said:

“We cannot afford to walk away from Afghanistan. This is where the war against terrorism started on 9/11. Failure here would embolden terrorists globally and there would be more members flocking to their banners. We would also see an increased number of migrants in the region coming into Europe.”

The paper reports that the request will be made at a meeting of the alliance's defence ministers in May.

Nicholson said the key aim of the 12,000 troops he commands in Afghanistan - 500 of them British - was to defeat Isis, which has tried to set up a caliphate in the southeast, adding that the Afghan government only currently controlled 75% of the country's territory.

He also dismissed reports that Sangin has been recaptured as Taliban propaganda.