Updated on
Summary
US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates visited US commanders in Afghanistan promising that President Barack Obamas surge of extra forces would give them what they need for success against the Taliban. Gates was the most senior US official to visit Afghanistan since Obama announced last week he is sending an extra 30,000 troops next year before beginning to withdraw them in mid-2011. Gates visited the NATO-run International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) joint operation centre where around 170 people from 42 nations work and praised improved cooperation between the different allied countries. He spoke after the overall NATO commander in Afghanistan predicted the US troop surge will reverse the momentum of Taliban insurgents by this time next year and ensure their ultimate defeat.By the summer of 2011, it will be clear to the Afghan people that the insurgency will not win, giving them the chance to side with their government, General Stanley McChrystal told US lawmakers in Washington. The additional 30,000 troops ordered by President Barack Obama will turn back insurgent momentum by this time next year and cut off the Taliban from the population, McChrystal, said, adding that this was US objective to increase Afghan Army number to 282,000 by 2011.
