Pentagon concerned over rise in number of foreign terrorists in Afghanistan from Pak

Washington, July 24 : The increasing number of foreign terrorists, including Uzbeks, Chechans and those from Arab, arriving into Afghanistan from across its borders with Pakistan, has been a cause of concern for the Pentagon.

This has emerged as a major problem for the US, especially in the wake of its inability to send more forces into Afghanistan as the Bush administration presently wants to focus more on Iraq.

According to The News, US commanders in Afghanistan have requested three more combat brigades, or about 10,000 troops, to deal with growing insurgent violence in the eastern and southern parts of Afghanistan, but the Pentagon is unable to send additional combat brigades to Afghanistan this year because of constraints imposed by the war in Iraq, leaving the decision on reinforcements to the next president, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said that Iraq remains the top priority for the Bush administration, which places limits on the forces available for duty in Afghanistan over the short term.

"Obviously we don't have the means to send three BCTs (brigade combat teams) to Afghanistan at this very moment, without making some very hard choices," the paper quoted him as saying.

ANI