Afghanistan

US lobbies Nato for more support, after committing 17,000 extra troops

Article published on the 2009-02-19 Latest update 2009-02-19 13:23 TU

A US soldier near Peshad village, Kunar province
(Photo: Reuters)

At a meeting in Krakow, Poland on Thursday Nato defence ministers are to review their strategy on Afghanistan, following the approval of 17,000 extra troops by the US earlier this week. The top US commander in the country, General David McKiernan has warned of a “tough year” ahead.

The Nato ministers are reviewing their Afghan strategy under pressure from Washington to send more troops themselves.

Gates will urge his allies to help bolster troop numbers in the short term, to guard against security concerns in the pre-election period, and said that Washington is disappointed by the response so far.

There is particular concern about insurgents including Al-Qaeda and drug smugglers who have bases in Pakistan.

“There is a requirement out there in terms of the desire to have people sign up for additional troops during that period and frankly the response so far has been disappointing,” said Gates.

Germany confirmed Thursday that it will send 600 troops ahead of this year's presidential election on 20 August.

Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has said around 10,000 extra troops are required to help bolster security before the election.

On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama made his first major military decision when he committed 17,000 more soldiers to the region. An announcement welcomed by Afghan officials.

"The new administration was hoping that, essentially, with Obama in the White House it would be increasingly difficult for European leaders to say no," says Michael Williams from Royal Holloway University in London.

They will join an existing force of around 70,000 troops, and will reinforce areas along the border, in eastern, south-eastern and southern parts of the country.

Low numbers on the ground and lack of equipment have created tension between allied forces.

"There really doesn't seem to be anyone who is going to step forward and put in a large contingent of troops, estern Europeans have historically been a bit more supportive, and there may be a couple of thousand coming from that angle, but probably nothing to match the US contribution," Williams told RFI.

The US, Australian, British, Canadian, Danish and Dutch armed forces have all been suffering casualties in the south where problems with insurgency and opium production are making conditions difficult.

“For the next three to four years, I think we’re going to need to stay heavily committed and sustain in a sustained manner in Afghanistan,” said US General David McKiernan at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

Even with the extra troops, his forces face "a tough year", he said.

An Afghan policeman near Khas Kunar refugee camp, Kunar province
(Photo: Reuters)

In Krakow, Nato defence ministers will analyse training programmes for Afghan security services and look at boosting counter-insurgency measures.

"They should theoretically be able to make a difference [...] that said, there is going to be nowhere near the number of troops that the US army field manual, written by General Petraeus, says is needed - about 600,000," says Dr Williams, a specialist in international relations.

It is thought that diplomatic efforts will also be augmented with attempts to involve neighbouring countries such as China, Russia and Iran.

Meanwhile, in Kyrgyzstan, the parliament voting overwhelmingly in favour of closing down a key US military base which helps provide supplies to troops in Afghanistan.

The vote to close the Manas air base was passed by a wide margin, with 78 out of a total of 81 lawmakers agreeing that the base should be shut.

Elsewhere, Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s trip to Pakistan was delayed by snow on Thursday.

Karzai was set to meet Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad for talks focusing on efforts to stem Islamic militancy in both countries.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry a new date will be announced soon.