Kabul: The Afghan Defence Ministry welcomed yesterday suggestions by the commander of international forces in Afghanistan that more troops were needed to train Afghan security forces, who are battling to hold back a growing Taliban-led insurgency.
General John Nicholson, the commander of US and international troops in Afghanistan, told the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington on Thursday that he did not have enough troops to adequately advise Afghan forces on the ground.
Nicholson told lawmakers the Nato-led force in Afghanistan had enough troops to carry out counterterrorism missions but had "a shortfall of a few thousand" for its major role of advising Afghan security forces.
His comments came just as US President Donald Trump and his Afghan counterpart, Ashraf Ghani, spoke by telephone for the first time since Trump's inauguration last month.
The two discussed security, counterterrorism cooperation and economic development, officials said.
Afghan defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said more international troops would be a "good step" towards countering militant groups in Afghanistan.
"The Afghan defence ministry supports any decision taken between the Afghan and American governments".
"This is a joint battle against terrorism and we support any possible way to tackle terrorism in the country."
Waziri said the Afghan military had asked the US government for more equipment and training for its forces.
