US President Barack Obama has announced to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan and begin withdrawal of troops in 18 months. In his Afghan policy speech at the West Point Military Academy in New York, Obama said the additional troops will target the insurgency and secure key population centres. He said they will increase ability to train competent Afghan Security Forces, and will help create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans.<br/><br/>Obama said the cancer of violent extremism has taken roots in the border region of Pakistan and argued the need for the US and its allies to successfully treat it. He said defeated by the US-led international forces in Afghanistan, the Al-Qaeda leaders have established a safe haven in Pakistan.<br/><br/>India today said that as long as the Taliban and Al Qaeda are free to wreck havoc in Afghanistan, the aspiration of the people of that country for a peace and security as well decent lives cannot be fulfilled. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi today, the Minister of State for External Affairs Mr. Shashi Tharoor said, the entire international community has a stake in the stability of Afghanistan and the success of the democratically elected government of Karzai. Reacting to US President Obama’s announcement to send more troops to Afghanistan, Mr. Tharoor welcomed the move saying that the pressure on Taliban and Al Qaeda is extremely important for the security and challenges facing Afghanistan.<br/>