10 March 2017•Update: 17 March 2017
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON
The U.S. is mulling additional forces in Afghanistan to break a “stalemate” between the Kabul government it backs and Taliban fighters, according to Washington’s top general for the region.
"We are developing a strategy and we are in discussions with the secretary and the department right now," Central Command Commander Gen. Joseph Votel said during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"I do believe it will involve additional forces to ensure that we can make the advise and assist mission more effective," he said of the NATO-led mission.
The U.S. currently has just shy of 8,500 troops assisting Kabul's effort against the Taliban, but the general leading the U.S. effort said last month that he needs "a few thousand" more troops to meet his objectives.
Saying he agrees with Gen. John Nicholson's "approach", Votel said the additional forces would be used to improve U.S. support for Afghanistan's Air Force and "special operations capability.
"That's certainly a discussion we're having with the secretary right now. I won't presage a decision here," he said.
