Canberra, Mar. 29 : Australian troops engaged in the war against Taliban may have to spend almost a decade in Afghanistan, an expert has claimed.

Clive Williams, Australian National University’s Visiting Professor on Defense Studies, said the fight with the Taliban would continue while US-aligned troops train the Afghan Army.

“We''re there for probably a 10-year period. I don''t think it will be a short-term thing, because essentially the biggest challenge is to create an officer corps in the Afghan army,” the Herald Sun quoted Williams, as saying.

Williams also said that US is likely to ask Australia to send more troops.

“We will come under pressure across the board. I think we will be asked for more troops,” he said.

Since 2002, ten Australian soldiers have died in Afghanistan.

Criticizing the US aid to Pakistan, Williams said that giving money directly to Pakistani Government was a “bad move”, as it was one of the world''s most corrupt countries and the funds would just dissipate and disappear.

What was needed in Pakistan was a hands-on effort, such as building public schools, training the military and providing equipment, he concluded. (ANI)