WASHINGTON, April 29 (UPI) -- Even with additional U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan, combat levels are inadequate to conduct operations in most key areas, a Pentagon report indicates.
The congressionally mandated report released Wednesday said coalition forces decided to concentrate on 121 districts in Afghanistan, but have enough troops to operate in only 48 districts, Stars & Stripes reported.
About 86,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan, up from about 30,000 when President Barack Obama took office last year. By August, the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan will be 98,000.
With the rest of the U.S. troops, and forces from other coalition countries scheduled to arrive in Afghanistan this year, the coalition and Afghan security forces will be able to focus on all 121 districts "over coming months," a senior Pentagon official said.
The progress report said violence in Afghanistan increased 87 percent between February 2009 and March 2010, even though the country's deteriorating situation has leveled off, Stars & Stripes said.
A senior Defense Department official attributed the increase in violence to the presence of more troops who are moving into tougher areas. The biggest challenge coalition forces face is training and fielding enough quality Afghan forces to assume responsibility for the country's security, the official said.
