Obama orders more 30,000 troops to Afghanistan

US President Barack Obama has ordered 30,000 more American troops to Afghanistan to defeat Taliban and al-Qaida extremists and restore stability to the war-torn country.

In a speech outlining his new war strategy Tuesday, President Obama said while Afghanistan is not lost, it has been moving backwards for several years.  He warned that US and the common security of the world was at stake.

Obama told cadets at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York that additional forces will help accelerate the transfer of responsibility to Afghan forces and allow US troops to begin leaving the country by July 2011. He said troops will focus on targeting the insurgency, securing key population centers and increasing the training of Afghan security forces.

The president said he has asked US allies to contribute additional troops and resources as well.

Obama says the United States has "no interest" in occupying the country and that its commitment is not "open-ended." The additional American forces will bring the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to about 100,000.

Senior administration officials say all the forces will be in place in about six months. During Tuesday's speech, President Obama said the US will support Afghan ministries, governors and local leaders, but those officials who are found to be ineffective or corrupt must be held accountable.

Obama also addressed the volatile situation in Pakistan, saying that success in Afghanistan is "inextricably linked" to the U.S. partnership with Pakistan.

Obama pledged to help strengthen Pakistan's democracy, its development and its ability to target militants. He said the United States is already the largest international supporter for Pakistanis displaced by fighting and American will remain a strong supporter of Pakistan's security "long after" violence there ends.

The Obama administration is struggling to counter declining US public support and rising casualties in the eight-year war against Taliban and al-Qaida militants.