US Afghanistan Envoy Begs Obama Not to Send More Troops

The message arrived amid intense debate over strategy, with President Obama yet to make a decision on troop numbers. File Photo

The US ambassador in Kabul has written to the White House arguing against sending thousands more American troops to Afghanistan.

In a leaked cable, Karl Eikenberry expressed doubts about the competence of President Hamid Karzai's government.

The message arrived amid intense debate over strategy, with President Obama yet to make a decision on troop numbers.

This dramatic intervention seems to put the envoy at odds with generals wanting reinforcements, international press reports stated.

On Wednesday, Obama held his eighth meeting in a series aimed at refocusing Afghan policy.

Eikenberry, a former US commander in Afghanistan, also raised concerns about corruption within the Afghan government.

He said it was "not a good idea" to send more troops, the BBC reported.

The cable arrived days before Obama held a crucial strategy session - to discuss the question of whether to send tens of thousands more troops to confront and push back the Taliban.