US to send 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan

Unveiling his new military strategy, US President Barack Obama today approved despatch of 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan, saying the situation in that country, specially areas bordering Pakistan, needed swift attention.

Asserting that the situation in the war-torn country was still "winnable", Obama in his first military decision said fresh troops would "stabilise a deteriorating situation" in Afghanistan and emphasised on the urgency to stamp out Al-Qaeda and make sure extremism did not expand.

He declared that the new induction would change the course of conflict in the country, where his advisers have warned that the US is fast losing the grip.

Focussing sharply on the Afghan-Pakistan border, the US President lamented, "We have not been as focused as we need to be on all the various steps that are needed in order to deal with Afghanistan."

With more boots on the ground, Obama said: "I think it's still possible for us to stamp out Al-Qaeda to make sure that extremism is not expanding but rather is contracting."

"I do it today mindful that the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan demands urgent attention and swift action," Obama said.