WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) -- The 4,000 extra U.S. troops to be sent to Afghanistan will work with a command charged with developing Afghan security forces, a U.S. military official said.
The Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan is responsible for building the capacity and capability of the Afghan national army and national police "so that they can bring stability and security to the Afghan people," Maj. Gen. Richard P. Formica, commanding general of the CSTC-A, said from Kabul during a conference call Tuesday.
The troops to be deployed to Formica's CSTC-A probably would come as a brigade combat team, although no decision has been made.
Obama's recent decision to send the additional 4,000 troops to Afghanistan "is a demonstrable and significant commitment to the development of the Afghan national security forces," Formica said.
The additional troops, which will have mentoring responsibilities, and the provision of mentor liaison teams and police mentor teams by coalition partners, means "we will be able to meet the established training requirements for the current year for the first time," he said
With his announcement, Obama "reaffirmed our commitment to accelerate the growth of the Afghan national army to 134,000 and to accelerate the reform of the Afghan national police force at 82,000," Formica said.
