London, Mar 27: British Army Chief General Sir Richard Dannatt is ready to send 2,000 troops to Afghanistan, increasing soldiers strength to 10,000.

General Dannatt fears that the US-led mission will struggle without significant reinforcements and is waiting British Cabinet approval to send additional troops to Afghanistan.

US President Barack Obama will announce on Friday an extra 17,000 US troops and a big rise in civilian officials as part of his new strategy in Afghanistan, The Times reported.

He will also announce a plan to double the size of the Afghan National Army, with US units training more recruits, and increased aid to fight militants in neighbouring Pakistan.

American and British efforts to persuade other NATO countries to contribute have so far drawn a blank.

General Dannatt said that there were no plans to send the whole brigade of about 4,000 troops, which would take the British presence to more than 12,000.

He indicated that the increase, subject to political approval, could take the total to “somewhere in between” that figure and the present troop strength of 8,300. Defence sources said that a rise of 1,700 to 2,000 troops was viewed as “the uppermost ceiling”.

General Dannatt made it clear in his interview that although a number of military options were being considered to boost Britain’s presence in Afghanistan, sending an extra brigade would put too much strain on forces. (ANI)