Why Trump's Afghanistan strategy risks the worst of both worlds Read moreUS officials have said the president signed off on plans to send about 4,000 more troops to add to the roughly 8,400 now deployed in Afghanistan. New Zealand defence minister Mark Mitchell’s announcement boosting the country’s Kabul-based troops to 13 follows a request for Nato to send more troops to Afghanistan earlier this year. New Zealand has had troops in Afghanistan since 2001. “New Zealand will continue to stand alongside our partners in supporting stability in Afghanistan and countering the threat of international terrorism,” said Mitchell. The New Zealand prime minister, Bill English, said the government had ruled out making a decision on sending combat troops to Afghanistan before New Zealand’s election on 23 September.

Source: The Guardian August 25, 2017 01:18 UTC