Trump has made Afghanistan decision after ‘rigorous’ US review, says Mattis

AMMAN (Reuters) – President Donald Trump has a made a decision on the United States’ strategy for Afghanistan after a “sufficiently rigorous” review process, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday.

However, Mattis did not provide details on when the White House would make an announcement or what the decision was on Afghanistan, where fighting still rages more than 15 years after US forces invaded and overthrew a Taliban government.

Soon after taking office in January the Trump administration began a review of American policy on Afghanistan, which has expanded into a broader South Asia review.

“I am very comfortable that the strategic process was sufficiently rigorous and did not go in with a preset position,” Mattis told reporters traveling with him aboard a military aircraft to Jordan. “The president has made a decision. As he said, he wants to be the one to announce it to the American people.”

After Trump met with his national security aides on Friday to review an array of options for Afghan strategy, the White House said no decision had been made on whether he would commit more troops to America’s longest war. However, Trump tweeted on Saturday: “many decisions made, including on Afghanistan.”

US officials have told Reuters that the president was expected to be briefed on options ranging from a complete withdrawal of American troops in Afghanistan to a modest increase.

One US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Trump’s top national security aides are backing adding between 3,000 and 5,000 troops and allowing them to embed with Afghan forces closer to combat.

Michael Kugelman, with the Woodrow Wilson Center think tank in Washington, said an extended strategy review was somewhat positive because it showed that all options were being considered. However, recent gains by Taliban militants made it imperative that a strategy be announced soon.

According to American estimates, government forces control less than 60% of Afghanistan, with almost half the country either contested or under the control of the insurgents.

“The Taliban insurgency has never been stronger... We need a strategy to address all this – and fast,” Kugelman said.