He said the main role of the troops would be to protect the civilian population better from Taliban threats and intimidation.

At the end of August, McChrystal is to deliver a 60-day status report in Washington. The newspaper, citing high-ranking military officials, said that the general would likely back a request by his predecessor General David McKiernan for 10,000 additional troops for Afghanistan.

US President Barack Obama has already provided 21,000 troops to Afghanistan to arrive by autumn, bringing the US military presence there to 68,000. Another 30,000 soliders are in Afghanistan from members of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and other countries.

Following the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, the US invaded Afghanistan to rid the country of the Al Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban-led government that gave it refuge.