Washington, February 03: US military chief demands more money for Afghanistan war, saying the funds are vital in order to contain Taliban’s growing influence across the war-weary country.
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen on Tuesday urged Congress to approve USD 159 billion for the combined wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mullen says that without Congress’s continued support, the US army will not be able to show meaningful progress in what he called its fight against the Taliban.
Mullen claimed that the Afghan people desperately need the US support.
The United States and its NATO allies are deploying 40,000 extra troops to Afghanistan. Mullen says 18,000 of these troops will be sent to the country by spring.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States invaded Afghanistan, allegedly to root out militancy in the country.
The costly, fatal conflict is stretching into its ninth year as thousands of Afghan civilians have been killed both by acts of violence, including bombings and daily fighting, and US military operations in the country.
——–Agencies