US official says a troop increase is certain under new Afghan plan

US official: Troop increase under new Afghan plan

BRUSSELS — A top Pentagon official says President Obama’s new plan for Afghanistan will certainly involve an increase in the number of international troops.

Undersecretary of Defense Michele Flournoy says a strategy decision will be announced within the next “couple or maybe a few weeks.”

Flournoy, the Pentagon’s policy chief, headed a high-ranking U.S. delegation that briefed NATO ambassadors on Thursday on the progress of the administration’s review of the Afghan war. A transcript of her remarks was received on Saturday.

Flournoy told the ambassadors: “No one is talking about leaving Afghanistan, or even standing pat. We are increasing our commitment.”

The allies are engaged in intense deliberations regarding the future of the 71,000 strong NATO force in Afghanistan.