Washington: The Pentagon has called for a small troop cut in Afghanistan, from the existing 19,000 to 16,000. The Pentagon is also planning to reduce the US troop strength in Iraq to below 138,000.
No dates have been set but it would depend on how soon NATO forces in Afghanistan and forces in Iraq are able to take on security and counter insurgency tasks.
The decision of troop reduction in Afghanistan is based on a recommendation by a senior US commander in that country.
The directive has come from the Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld and it means that some of the troops out of the Louisiana-based Tenth Mountain Division will not be heading to Afghanistan.
Rumsfeld's directive comes at a time when the Pentagon is also said to be considering a reduction of American troops level in Iraq to below the ‘baseline’ of 138,000.
The Defence Department added some 15,000 troops to augment security during election time.
On Iraq, both the President George W Bush and the Defence Secretary have repeatedly said that any decision to draw down forces will be based on recommendations by senior American military commanders in that country.
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