Nato plans more Afghan resources

Officials at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in the Dutch coastal town of Noordwijk said as many as nine nations had offered more input to the mission.

Among the new offers were two by France and Germany for military instructors.

US officials, who have been calling for allies to send more troops to Afghanistan, welcomed the development.

The Nato secretary general told a news conference: "I've noticed offers from nations, including for the southern part of Afghanistan.

"We have 90% filled of what we need, but there are still shortages."

See how Nato members' contributions compare

The exact shape of any new Nato contributions to the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) of 41,100 in Afghanistan could become clear next month during a meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Belgium.

The BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Noordwijk says US, UK, Canadian and Dutch troops have been unhappy about bearing the lion's share of fighting a revived Taleban.

The US has an additional 7,000 troops serving in Afghanistan outside the Isaf framework.

'No free ride'

National caveats currently prevent some countries - such as Germany, Italy, France and Spain - from either fighting, or from being based in the more dangerous provinces.

"I wouldn't say I'm satisfied - but I would say that today was considerably more positive than I anticipated"
Robert Gates
US Defence Secretary

Nato allies' Afghan burden

Nato's secretary general said he would float the idea of more national contingent rotations around the country, although he stressed it was a long-term idea.

French officials indicated they were planning to send up to 50 military trainers to the frontline in the south of the country to instruct Afghan security forces.

German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung announced Berlin would contribute more military trainers too. He also said reconstruction was as important as fighting insurgents.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told the AP news agency: "I wouldn't say I'm satisfied. But I would say that today was considerably more positive than I anticipated."

The Netherlands, which is under growing public pressure to pull out its troops from Afghanistan, joined US calls for allies to share the burden as the two days of talks began.

"One thing is certain, there is no such thing as a free ride to peace and security," said Dutch Defence Minister Eimert Van Middelkoop.

Six years since the toppling of the Taleban regime, there is an air of concern, if not crisis, about the 38-nation mission to Afghanistan, say analysts.

As well as a Taleban fight back and record poppy crops, rebuilding has gone more slowly than expected, while civilian and military casualties have tested public support for the mission.

International Security Assistance Force

Troop contributing nations

Back to top

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Nato
Isaf
Turkish defence ministry (in Turkish)
Afghan government
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites