Defense Minister Requests More International Troops, Says Thousands Bolstering Taliban Insurgency

(AP) Thousands of foreign fighters have poured into Afghanistan to bolster the Taliban insurgency, the country's defense minister said Saturday as he called for more international troops.

The remarks come as the U.S. debates whether to substantially increase its forces in Afghanistan or to conduct a more limited campaign focused on targeting al Qaeda figures - most of whom are believed to be in neighboring Pakistan.

An American and two Polish troops were killed by bombs in the latest violence reported by NATO forces.


U.S. military officials said they could not immediately comment on the claim of a recent influx of foreign fighters.
Afghanistan's interior minister, who also spoke to parliament, endorsed a strategy promoted by the top U.S. commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal to focus on protecting civilians rather than simply killing insurgents.

“If the target of this fight is only killing the Taliban, we will not win this war. If it is saving the Afghan people, then we have a possibility,” Interior Minister Hanif Atmar said.


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