[Quqnoos] The Pentagon said Tuesday it expected an extra 18,000 troops to arrive in Afghanistan by late spring.The major part of 30,000 troops authorised by President Barack Obama is expected to intensify military operations against Taliban, who have spread their influence across the country.
At a congressional hearing on the Pentagon's budget priorities, Adm Mike Mullen, chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Taliban insurgency has moved well beyond southern strongholds.
"We have already moved nearly 4,500 troops to Afghanistan and expect that about 18,000 of the president's December 1st commitment will be there by late spring," Adm Mullen said.
The remainder of the 30,000 troops will arrive "as rapidly as possible over the summer and early fall, making a major contribution to reversing Taliban momentum in 2010," Adm Mullen said.
White House officials initially said the 30,000 troops should be in Afghanistan by the end of June. Pentagon officials said 92% of the new forces would be in place by August.
Speaking at the same hearing, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said US troop levels in Afghanistan are expected to reach 98,000 by September 30, 2010.
Other NATO countries, including Britain and Germany, have also pledged at least 7,000 more troops to Afghanistan that will raise the level of foreign troops to around 150,000 by September.