Nato boosts Afghan effort

Brussels : Nato stepped up international efforts to improve the security situation in Afghanistan as 25 countries promised to send 7,000 more troops to the war-torn country.

The move, which would boost US President Barack Obama's new strategy, was announced by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Nato secretary general.

"We will pursue a population-centred approach to protect people and offer development assistance," Rasmussen told journalists, adding that the Afghan government will have to assume its responsibilities of ensuring good and efficient governance and show a strong determination to fight corruption and drug trafficking.

Following a meeting with Nato foreign ministers, Rasmussen said he had received confirmed pledges for the extra troops, with the probability of more countries contributing to the total in the next few months.

The extra troops pledge comes hot on the heels of Obama's plan to send 30,000 US soldiers.

"There are no silver bullets, no magic solutions," he said. "It will still take more time, more commitment and more patience to reach our shared goal."

Rasmussen laid out what he called a new roadmap for Nato operations, involving more troops, more aid and more training for Afghan security forces, as well as efforts to reintegrate Taliban fighters who agree to lay down their arms.

While the extra troops represent a stepped-up commitment, the pledges must be seen against plans by The Netherlands and Canada to withdraw a total of 4,900 combat forces in 2010 and 2011, reflecting public unease with the war.

Trainers

Key allies France and Germany appear more willing to send trainers than combat troops and have said they will take a decision on any further commitment only after a conference on Afghanistan to be held in London on January 28.

Nato needs over 200 more police and military training teams to boost Afghan forces so they can eventually take over security responsibility and allow foreign forces to withdraw.

— With additional inputs from Reuters