Afghanistan supports sending more US forces

WASHINGTON (AP) - Afghanistan says it wants the Trump administration to send more forces and help meet "military shortfalls" in the battle against the Taliban and the Islamic State group.

Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani welcomed the recent call by U.S. Gen. John Nicholson, the top American commander in Afghanistan, for an increase of a few thousand more troops.

The U.S. administration has not yet said whether it will send more troops in response to Nicholson's comments. Some 8,400 U.S. troops are currently deployed there.

In a sign of how regional powers are vying for influence in the war-torn nation, Rabbani said Russia is planning a 12-nation conference on Afghanistan. He said the U.S. is invited.

The State Department said it was aware of the conference but has not yet decided on its participation.