WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- With attacks by the Taliban on the rise, the Bush administration will request more than $10 billion in new military and reconstruction aid for Afghanistan.
President Bush will ask Congress to approve the $10.6 billion package through a supplemental budget request next month, according to an announcement from the State Department, as reported by Voice of America. The bulk of the additional funds will be used to train and equip Afghan security forces, while $2 billion will be for reconstruction.
The funding boost reflects concern from the Bush administration about a resurgence of the Taliban, which has already demonstrated an increase military ability and is expected to mount a spring offensive.
If approved, the new budget will also represent the renewed commitment of the United States to Afghanistan reconstruction efforts. Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, the U.S. contribution has totaled just over $14 billion.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to ask NATO for a similar funding package during a meeting with officials today in Brussels.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the funding increase is both a demonstration of support for the Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai and an example that the Bush administration hopes other NATO partners will follow, VOA reported.
There are currently about 34,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan, which includes about 12,000 U.S. soldiers. Another 12,000 American troops are there under direct U.S. command.
