NATO still struggling to raise more troops for Afghanistan

Deutsche Presse Agentur | September 13, 2006

Brussels- NATO governments Wednesday made another inconclusive effort to raise more troops for insurgency-ridden southern Afghanistan amid growing US and British impatience at countries' reluctance to provide reinforcements for the region. NATO government representatives, meeting for so-called force- generation talks in Mons, Belgium, had given "positive indications" on future troop contributions to the Afghan mission, said NATO spokesman James Appathurai. But "no formal offers were made," he said.

Discussions on reinforcements for the operation would continue in a "positive manner," including at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Slovenia later this month, he added.

"NATO forces are stretched (in Afghanistan) and more forces would allow ISAF (the International Stablization and Assistance Force) to achieve its objectives more quickly," the NATO spokesman said.

Appathurai insisted that while NATO urgently needed more troops - officials say about 2,000 to 2,500 soldiers are required - the Alliance's operation in dangerous southern Afghanistan was on course.

"We have sufficient forces in theatre to complete the mission successfully," he said, adding: "NATO is achieving its operational objectives...forces are moving forward carefully because the area is mined."

The mission in southern Afghanistan was not yet complete but was achieving "substantial progress," he insisted.

NATO troops had succeeded in moving into and occupying two-thirds of the operational area despite attacks from the Taliban, Appathurai said.

He added that NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer hoped and expected Alliance nations to show solidarity and meet current troops shortfalls.

"We will keep up the pressure and the Secretary General expects to see results," he emphasized.

NATO governments are under pressure to pledge an additional 2,000 to 2,500 troops to fight the Taliban insurgency in the south of Afghanistan.

In a clear reference to Britain, which has about 5,000 troops in Afghanistan, Scheffer said earlier this week that some countries were "carrying more of the burden than others."

"A 26-nation alliance should show this solidarity. So I'm working hard as we speak on getting the extra forces," said Scheffer.

NATO military chief General James Jones has also said reinforcements for the Alliance's hard-pressed troops are needed as a matter of urgency.

However, the response from several countries has been negative.

Germany is insisting that it has already 2,900 soldiers in northern Afghanistan while others including Italy have argued that their forces are overstretched in either Iraq or Lebanon.

Turkey has also said it will not be able to provide more soldiers given its recent decision to deploy 1,000 soldiers in Lebanon as part of a United Nations operation.

NATO's deployment in Afghanistan is the Alliance's largest and most prestigious operation.

Washington says NATO operations against the Taliban militia are a vital part of the war against terrorism and against Al-Qaeda, held responsible for the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the US.

After months of discussion, NATO decided earlier this year to send forces into volatile southern Afghanistan despite fears that its troops would come under Taliban fire.

NATO officials have conceded that the Taliban insurgency is stronger than expected, a point also made ealier this week by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

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