NATO Defense Ministers Discuss Troop Levels in Afghanistan

NETHERLANDS - NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is reporting progress in efforts to provide additional troops for alliance operations in Afghanistan.

The NATO official said alliance defense ministers, meeting in the Netherlands, have offered to provide some additional troops, but did not elaborate.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates pressed the other allies to send more soldiers to southern Afghanistan, the scene of the most serious fighting with Taliban forces. Gates said there is an urgent need for NATO troops to train the Afghan army and provide security for provincial reconstruction teams. 

Both France and Germany agreed to send additional trainers, but only the French will authorize their use in the south.

Gates expressed disappointment Monday that NATO members have not honored 2006 promises to provide additional resources.

U.S., British and Canadian troops are doing most of the fighting in the south. 

Other NATO members have been reluctant to deploy troops to Afghanistan's volatile regions.

The NATO defense ministers' meeting in the Dutch town of Noordwijk ends Thursday.

Source: Voice of America

Technorati Tags: News World Afghanistan Canada France Germany Jaap de Hoop Scheffer Military NATO United Kingdom United States

• ‹ previous
• 2866 of 3858
• next ›