How many soldiers have been stationed in Afghanistan?

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced plans to send an additional 500 troops to Afghanistan. Mr. Brown said the troops will be sent on three conditions. They are that the right equipment is in place, the Afghan government speeds up the training of its soldiers and that NATO allies also increase their troop levels. The announced increase would bring the total number of British forces to 9,500. Britain’s force is the second largest in Afghanistan after the United States which currently has about 65,000 troops there. President Obama is considering a request by the top American commander in Afghanistan for 40,000 additional troops.