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The number of US troops killed in Afghanistan has roughly doubled in the first three months of 2010 compared to the same period last year, after Washington added tens of thousands of additional soldiers to reverse the Taliban's momentum.

Those deaths have been accompanied by a dramatic spike in the number of wounded, with injuries more than tripling in the first two months of the year.

US officials have warned that casualties are likely to rise even more as the Pentagon completes its deployment of 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. The Pentagon is setting its sights on the Taliban's home base of Kandahar province, where a major operation is expected in the coming months.

In total, 57 US troops were killed here during the first two months of 2010 compared with 28 in January and February of last year, an increase of more than 100 percent, according to Pentagon figures compiled by The Associated Press. At least 20 American service members have been killed so far in March.

Britain, which has the second largest contingent, has lost at least 33 troops since Jan 1, compared with 15 for the same period last year.

A rise in the number of wounded shows that the Taliban remain a formidable opponent.

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（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Renee Haines is an editor and broadcaster at China Daily. Renee has more than 15 years of experience as a newspaper editor, radio station anchor and news director, news-wire service reporter and bureau chief, magazine writer, book editor and website consultant. She came to China from the United States.