Above: Troops playing against the perils in war-torn Afghanistan (Photo: www.hqusareur.army.mil)

The number of US and NATO troops killed in Afghanistan in May and June has surpassed that of Iraq. Taliban offensives have considerably risen and have become more dangerous. Experts say that the insurgents in Afghanistan are getting stronger thus it could be an alarming sign on the part of the US/NATO soldiers in the war-torn country.

United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates has reported that Afghanistan attacks in May have killed more soldiers than in Iraq, with death counts for the month reaching 22 soldiers while the death toll in Iraq dropped at 21. The trend has even continued in June.

Based on a count from the Associated Press, 45 NATO troops died in Afghanistan in June. The data includes 27 US soldiers and 13 British troops. June has been considered the deadliest month since the US-led attack in Afghanistan in 2001 which overthrew the Taliban regime.

The day doesn’t end for these soldiers in Afghanistan who are even more on heightened alert against the alarmingly mounting insurgent risks (Photo: www.dnd.ca)

On the other hand, the death toll in Iraq fell at 31 in June. The count includes 29 US soldiers and 3 international troops.

The troops in Iraq are mostly from the United States while a small percentage consists of British soldiers and international peacekeepers. About half of the troops in Afghanistan are international forces and the rest are US soldiers.

The international community recently met in Paris and pledged additional $21 billion aid for Afghanistan. However, an Afghanistan expert in New York has expressed doubt on the success of the promised aid.