Washington, May 9 (RHC)-- U.S. military officials and the State Department have recommended sending 3,000 to 5,000 additional troops, including hundreds of Special Operations forces, to Afghanistan, according to U.S. media reports. 

Pentagon officials claim the U.S. military needs a bigger role in Afghanistan to push the Taliban militant group back to the negotiating table.  They have also called for authority to target Taliban leaders with airstrikes. 

The proposal has reportedly yet to be approved by U.S. President Donald Trump, but according to The New York Times, Trump was close to signing off on the recommendation, which is the result of a broad review by the Pentagon, the State Department, intelligence community and other government agencies on the Afghan war. 
 
The U.S. currently has around 8,400 soldiers in Afghanistan with about another 5,000 troops from NATO allies.  NATO countries would also be asked to send 3,000 to 5,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan, and the precise number of U.S. troops deployed would probably depend on what those allies were prepared to do, The New York Times reported.