New York [U.S.A.], Aug 31 (ANI): For the first time ever, the Pentagon has publicly acknowledged that about 1,000 United States troops are placed in Afghanistan, which is higher than the number disclosed in the recent years.
Earlier, the Defense Departments officials revealed that a total of 8,400 troops were present in Afghanistan as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Resolute Support mission, reported the New York Times.
It added that another 'publicly acknowledged' 2,000 American forces were there to help local troops to conduct counter-terrorism missions.
As per a defense official, the new count includes covert as well as temporary units.
Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the director of the staff of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said that thousands of American troops were sent to Afghanistan under President Donald Trump's new strategy to conduct the war effort there.
As per the Defense officials, the numbers are expected to rise by close to another 4,000 troops.
Pentagon officials said that they are now ready to be more transparent.
"The secretary has determined we must simplify our accounting methodology and improve the public's understanding of America's military commitment in Afghanistan," Pentagon Press Secretary Dana W. White said of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
"We owe the American people as much transparency as possible while still protecting sensitive information," he said.
US former president Barack Obama reportedly ended American combat missions in both Iraq and Afghanistan when he was in power, but American warplanes continued to target the Islamic State and the Taliban. (ANI)
This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI