washington president donald trump administration draft afghanistan policy u.s. officials seek way reverse gain militant group without wad deep 15-year-long war end sight past month three u.s. service members kill operations islamic state militants near afghanistan porous border pakistan arm group still find sanctuary.officially u.s.-led international force afghanistan cease combat operations end 2014 conflict prove difficult exit without risk overthrow government kabul current former officials speak condition anonymity say trump administration carry inter-agency review decision make discussions revolve around add 3,000 5,000 troop one officials say emphasis avoid artificial deadlines former president barack obama want reduce number u.s. troop afghanistan leave office order troop 2011 peak 100,000. nearly 9,000 u.s. troop remain afghanistan 7,000 train assist afghan force 1,500 part counter-terrorism unit mostly target pocket al qaeda islamic state fighters also engage taliban february army general john nicholson u.s. commander afghanistan say need several thousand international troop break stalemate taliban u.s. officials question benefit send troop afghanistan date 2,300 americans kill 17,000 wound since u.s. invade sept. 11 2001 attack officials agree discuss political deliberations condition anonymity say situation afghanistan even bad expect politically palatable number would enough turn tide much less create stability security get question many troop enough clarity goal say christine wormuth former undersecretary defense obama administration goal decisively defeat taliban make afghanistan viable state goal continue prop government afghanistan wormuth say risk deep involvement u.s. weigh options afghanistan