New U.S. strategy in Afghanistan

The Trump administration is expected to approve additional U.S. troops for the 16-year war in Afghanistan. The extra forces would be used to train Afghan soldiers and bolster operations against militant groups

Taliban full control        200km 
Taliban contested          125 miles
Taliban presence
Map data as of March 2017

Mazar-i-Sharif
Kunduz
Herat
A F G H A N I S T A N
Kabul
Kandahar

U.S. TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN

Apr 2002
 7,425

Apr 2006
 23,300 

Dec 2009: 69,000 President Obama announces “surge” of 30,000 troops

May 2011
 100,000

Feb 2014
 34,000

Current troops 8,400

  2001 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 


Sources: Long War Journal, Brookings Institution, wire agencies       © GRAPHIC NEWS