Afghan Mission At a Tougher Stage: Mullen

A US top Military official, Adm. Mike Mullen expects growing violence in Afghanistan.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen told an American TV Channel, ABC, that with reinforcement of troops, the level of insurgency will also go up this summer.Afghan Defense Ministry confirms that the Taliban-led insurgency will mount this year but speaks of preparations to prevent the violence.The US official, Mullen says deploying additional troops is effective in Afghan mission but he concentrates on training and bolstering Afghan forces to stablise the war-torn country.The US President Barack Obama approved this February to send extra 17,000 troops to Afghanistan and later on, he tasked another 4,000 US military personnel to train and enlarge Afghan security force.According to the new unveiled US strategy for Afghanistan, an army of 134,000 and a police 80,000 are to be built within the next five years for Afghanistan.Mullen said the new US troops will focus on southern Afghanistan where the Taliban influence expands over the past four years.I look forward to a very active year, Mullen told ABC television, adding, I want to be clear that my expectations are as we add more troops, the violence level in Afghanistan is going to go up.Mullen says there is more need for training of Afghan police and Army, so in long run, they take the leadership of operations in Afghanistan.Afghan MoD Spokesman, Maj. General Zahir Azimi said they will face a year with full of challenges and he urges further preparations than the last year.“Last year, 30 thousands of Afghan National Army, ANA, troops were fighting the insurgents in the frontlines and the other 30,000 were providing logistical support,” said Spokesman Azimi.According to him, more than 25 thousands personnel have been recruited in the Afghan Army over the last year.South and eastern regions of Afghanistan have turned to a stronghold for the Taliban over the past few years and they are battling to expand their control to the central parts of the country, where they have been able to conduct many fatal operations.