The top U.S. general in Afghanistan said he is a few thousand NATO troops short to meet his mission to train, advise and assist local forces.
Gen. John Nicholson, the leader of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the NATO mission to prepare Afghan forces to defend themselves does not have enough people.
“I have adequate resourcing in my counterterrorism mission. In my train, advise and assist mission, we have a shortfall of a few thousand,” Nicholson said.
The additional troops could come from the U.S. or from other NATO allies. Nicholson said a boost in force level would enable him to “thicken” advising across the Afghan military as well as advise Afghan forces below the corps level, most likely at the brigade level. Nicholson said NATO has already agreed to advising Afghans at lower levels, “it’s simply a question of manning.”
About 12,500 NATO forces are deployed to Afghanistan, including about 8,400 American troops. Nicholson said he expects an increase in NATO troops to be a topic of conversation when Defense Secretary Jim Mattis attends a defense ministerial with allies next week.
Nicholson described the conflict, which has stretched on for more than 15 years, as a “stalemate,” and said additional forces could help break it and move the needle in favor of the Afghan government.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and chairman of the committee, said the Trump administration has the chance to turn the tide in the fight by boosting the number of Western troops and giving commanders more flexible authorities.
“This new administration has the opportunity to turn the page and finally give our commanders the resources and authorities they need to seize the initiative and force the enemy to react, instead of the other way around,” McCain said. “This will likely require additional U.S. and coalition forces and more flexible authorities. And it will require sustained support to the Afghan security forces as they develop key enabling capabilities, including intelligence, logistics, special forces, airlift, and close-air support.”
McCain criticized previous strategies in Afghanistan for being based on politics instead of realities on the ground.
“Instead of trying to win, we settle for just not trying to lose,” McCain said.
At the White House, spokesman Sean Spicer was asked about Nicholson’s comment on Thursday afternoon.
“I think the president will heed the advice of the generals and [Defense] Secretary [Jim] Mattis,” Spicer said.
This year marks the second that the Afghan forces have taken the lead in their own security, assisted by U.S. and NATO forces. While those forces have made improvements, they have also suffered heavy casualties that prevent them from reaching their full manning goals, Nicholson said. In addition, the general said the Afghan Air Force is in “dire condition” because of a high operational tempo and a lack of spare parts due to sanctions.
The Taliban today also controls 15 percent more territory than it did in 2015.
