UK Plans to Deploy Special Forces to Fight Against Terror in Afghanistan

London is considering sending its special military forces to Afghanistan after US President Donald Trump announced the expansion of the US military authority in the country as part of Washington's new strategy to fight terrorism there, local media reported Sunday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Trump announced a US new strategy in its 16-years-long war in Afghanistan on Monday. Among the changes, provided in the strategy is lifting restrictions on the US forces to attack Taliban terror group (outlawed in numerous countries) and other militants formations in Afghanistan which had been previously imposed by the administration of ex-US President Barack Obama.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May is prepared to approve the deployment of the military forces which are likely to include the Special Air and Boat services, to Afghanistan, the Sunday Times Newspaper reported, citing military and governmental sources.

London has not yet received any formal request for the UK forces to join Pentagon troops in the Middle Eastern country, but the ministers are expecting such a request, the media outlet added.

Trump's decision to expand US military authority in Afghanistan hailed by UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon has been prompted by the UK intelligence data revealing that the Taliban terrorists had managed to establish themselves in major Afghan settlements and provinces, the newspaper pointed out.

UK media reported about some 500 UK troops currently stationed in Afghanistan involved in training the local servicemen. According to the Sunday Times Newspaper, this year these troops have been carrying out night raids in search of Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has long been suffering from significant political, social and security instability, aggravated by the activity of terrorist groups. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces supported by the NATO-led units have been conducting joint operations to combat terrorism across the country.