US military seeks 20K troops in Afghanistan

US military leaders have recommended that Washington should leave as many as 20,000 American troops in Afghanistan after 2016, says Senator John McCain.

McCain attributed the failure of Afghan forces to keep their country secure to a swift withdrawal of US forces and a continued Taliban sanctuary in Pakistan.

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but foreign troops have still not been able to establish security in the country.