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Some other U.S. senators said they are worried about Iran and Russias interventions in Afghanistans affairs

The United States Central Command has said the Pentagon is working on developing a new strategy on Afghanistan which may include increase of thousands of new U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

The answer to this question is yes. We are developing a strategy and we are in discussions with the secretary and the department right now. Both Gen. Nicholson and I are performing in our best advice and recommendations to the secretary and looking forward to move forward with that. I do believe we will involve additional forces to ensure that we can make the advice and assist mission more effective, said Gen. Joseph Votel, Commander of U.S. Central Command.

Meanwhile, a number of U.S. senators said eliminating insurgents in Pakistani soil and preventing Iran and Russia interventions in Afghanistan must be included in the new strategy of the United States.

In Afghanistan, we have settled strategy of dont lose and result is that last month, Gen. Nicholson testified before this committee this war is now in a stalemate after fifteen years of fighting. After fifteen years of fighting we are in a stalemate, said Gen. John McCain Chairman of Armed Services Committee of U.S. Senate. Some other U.S. senators said they are worried about Iran and Russias interventions in Afghanistans affairs.

Further complicated in the security landscape are the range of external actors, including Iran, Russia and Pakistan, who seem intend upon interfering with stability in Afghanistan, U.S. Senator Jack Reed said.

This comes after reports circulated that NATO generals in Afghanistan have urged the increase of their troops from 14,000 to 19,000 to be deployed in the country in order to help the Afghan security forces to maintain security.

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Pentagon Works On Developing New Strategy For Afghanistan ... - TOLOnews

New York Times

Afghanistan Is Now Trump's War New York Times Before the White House responds to the Pentagon's latest request for a troop surge in Afghanistan to counter insurgent forces that now control substantial parts of the country, it would serve administration officials well to examine the long history of ...

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Afghanistan Is Now Trump's War - New York Times

Foreign Policy (blog)

More US Troops Bound for Afghanistan, As Marines, Commandos, Arrive In Syria Foreign Policy (blog) The top general overseeing America's wars told Congress Thursday that more U.S. troops will likely be needed in Afghanistan to help train and advise Afghan forces, and left the door open to sending more U.S. forces into Iraq and Syria to fight the ... US Commander: More US Troops Could Deploy to Syria, AfghanistanBreitbart News Marines have arrived in Syria to fire artillery in the fight for RaqqaWashington Post all 375 news articles »

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More US Troops Bound for Afghanistan, As Marines, Commandos, Arrive In Syria - Foreign Policy (blog)

New York Times

Afghanistan: IS gunmen dressed as medics kill 30 at Kabul military hospital BBC News More than 30 people have been killed after attackers dressed as doctors stormed the largest military hospital in Kabul, Afghan officials say. Militants armed with guns and grenades gained entry after one detonated explosives at a hospital gate and then ... After Deadly Attack on Kabul Hospital, 'Everywhere Was Full of Blood'New York Times Islamic State attack on military hospital in Afghanistan kills 30Los Angeles Times ISIS gunmen dressed as medics kill dozens at hospital in AfghanistanNew York Post UN News Centre all 317 news articles »

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Afghanistan: IS gunmen dressed as medics kill 30 at Kabul military hospital - BBC News

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Pakistan has indefinitely closed two border crossings with Afghanistan after opening them for two days to let through Afghans with visas, officials said on Thursday.

The official border crossings were abruptly ordered closed last month after a series of attacks Pakistan blames on militants sheltered in Afghanistan, heightening tension between the neighbors.

But Pakistan temporarily reopened the crossings on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, to allow the return home of stranded citizens of both countries holding valid travel documents.

Two men, a woman and a child were trampled to death in the resulting surge of more than 20,000 Afghans passing through the crossings, said Attahullah Khogyani, the government spokesman for Afghanistan's border province of Nangarhar.

Pakistani official Niaz Mohammad, based in the border town of Torkham, said 24,000 Afghans had returned to Afghanistan on foot, while 700 Pakistanis returned home, before the border was closed again at 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday.

"There is no clarity on when the border will be reopened," Mohammad said.

The closure chokes off a key trading route for landlocked Afghanistan, although it has been working to build trade ties with other neighbors, such as Iran. It also cuts off Pakistani traders from a steady market.

On Thursday, about 200 traders and transporters held a protest at Torkham, complaining that cargo on 800 stranded trucks was rotting, particularly meat and fruit.

"People have suffered billions of rupees of losses in the past three or four weeks," said one protester, Ali Jan, a transporter.

"Their loaded vehicles have been standing by the road and there is no indication when the border will be opened."

A Pakistani government official, who asked not to be named, said the border would stay closed until Afghanistan took action against a list of 76 "most-wanted terrorists" whose capture and handover by Kabul the Pakistani military demanded last month.

Relations between the two countries are tense, with each routinely accusing the other of doing too little to stop Taliban fighters and other militants from operating in its territory.

Pakistan has blamed several attacks last month, in which more than 130 people were killed, on Pakistani militants taking shelter in Afghanistan. Afghanistan denies the charges.

Last year, Pakistan started building a barrier at Torkham, angering Afghanistan, which rejects a colonial-era boundary line dating from 1893.

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Pakistan Indefinitely Closes Border with Afghanistan Amid Rising Tension - Voice of America