KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - NATO-led troops battling resurgent Taliban militants will shortly be reinforced with another combat brigade, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan said Thursday. Gen. David Richards said the brigade will consist of members of different nations participating in NATO's International Security Assistance Force. A brigade is typically 1,500 to 3,500 soldiers; Richards did not specify how many additional troops were expected. "I anticipate at least another brigade of combat troops from ISAF nations coming here shortly and more after that," Richards said.The announcement came one day after the Defense Department said 3,200 soldiers from the New York-based 10th Mountain Division already in the country would have their tour extended by four months.
Richards made the comments at the opening of a joint operations center in Kabul that will be manned by officers from Afghanistan, Pakistan and NATO. The three are trying to increase coordination in their counterinsurgency efforts.