US to deploy 2,000 more troops in Afghan: spokesman

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 30, 2004

US to deploy 2,000 more troops in Afghan: spokesman

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

As the war on terror is going on in Afghanistan the United States army is sending another 2,000 troops here to bolster the current hunt down operation against the remnants of Taliban and Al-Qaeda terror network, US military spokesman said Monday.

"The 2,000 marines from the Marine Expeditionary Unit are coming here to help round up the remnants of Taliban and Al-Qaeda," Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty told newsmen at a routine press briefing.

Declining to disclose the timeframe for its deployment, he said some troops of the contingent had already arrived and the remainder would also be shifted here.

Media reports earlier suggested the deployment of additional 5,000 US troops in the post-Taliban country to boost the current war on terror networks and eliminate the menace from the region.

Dismissing the reported figure as unfounded, the spokesman said, "the figure is 2,000. I cannot tell you specifically where they are going to be deployed but they would be fighting Al-Qaeda and Taliban."

Already, more than 13,000 US-led coalition forces -- 11,700 of them Americans have been engaged in a war against terrorists in Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban regime over two years ago.

Despite hectic and desperate efforts over the last two years, the coalition troops have failed to kill or capture the fugitive leaders of the Taliban or Al-Qaeda.

The US-dominated coalition in coordination with Pakistani army launched a parallel massive operation dubbed "Mountain Storm" early this month along the porous common borders to check Taliban and Al-Qaeda infiltration.

Hundreds of Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters, according to Pakistani and coalition sources, have been killed or injured during the operation.

The US official was appreciative of the outcome of the sweep saying since then "we have not noted any militant activities on the border region.

"I would like to congratulate the Pakistanis for their aggressive operations and send our condolences for the death of so many of their soldiers," stressed the spokesman.

"We do have parallel complementary efforts, we have increased patrols, increased blocking positions and increased border check points," he added.

Source: Xinhua

Questions?Comments? Click here

US sets up copter base in Afghan mountains

US to stay in Afghanistan for a long term: Powell

Israel's killing of Yassin fuels conflict: Commentary ( 2 Messages)

How the US could improve its image abroad ( 14 Messages)

US urged not to fingerprint Chinese ( 10 Messages)

China hunts corrupt officials who abscond overseas ( 3 Messages)

Seven Chinese activists land on Diaoyu Islands ( 4 Messages)