US to Fund 100,000 Extra Afghan Troops

The top commander of the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan said the US president is increasing efforts to enlarge and empower Afghan forces

The United States government has also tripled the number of its military and civilian personnel in Afghanistan in the past few years.

"President Obama in particular made an enormous commitment. We have tripled the number of US forces and the number of the US civilians on the ground and the United States has provided funds for the 100,000 additional Afghan troops," Gen. David Petraeus, the US top commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan told reporters.

Afghan military officials say they have accelerated the training process of the Afghan security forces, and the Afghan forces will take security responsibilities of the entire country by the next four years.

"These forces receive proper training from their Turkish and Afghan tutors, to get ready for the next wars independently and be able to maintain the security of their own country," said Noori Sari, a trainer of the Afghan National Army (ANA).

ANA forces have taken security responsibilities in some parts of Afghanistan.

The US president, Barack Obama, has also pledged to start the gradual withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan by July, 2011.

The international community has also emphasised on the Afghan forces to be better trained and well-equipped.