KABUL, Afghanistan: The record 151 US troops were killed in Afghanistan, in the US-led invasion to oust Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgents since 2001, one of the deadliest year in terms of death toll of US troops.
Military officials say that 2009 could be deadlier because 30, 000 more troops will be poured in to Afghanistan in the coming days, however, there are already 33,000 US troops are on the soil of Afghanistan.
Moreover, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants gained new ground in the south and even at the doorsteps of Afghanistan, the city of Kabul is sometimes under the attacks of the insurgents.
In addition to the 151 US deaths in Afghanistan, British forces suffered 50 deaths, Canada 28, other nations in the 41-nation coalition lost 56 troops.
The insurgents killed at least 850 Afghan Police in the attacks across Afghanistan, however, 370 civilians were killed in the NATO and US invasions.
The cost of one American troop per annum is around 7, 75,000 US $, in Afghanistan.