UK PM urges NATO to boost Afghan force

13 Nov 2009, 10:53 pm   -   Source: AAP
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British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he is trying to persuade NATO partners in Europe and other allies to commit 5,000 troops to the Afghanistan war.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was confident of persuading Afghanistan war allies to contribute to an extra 5000 troops on top of a likely US surge.

Brown, under fire at home as the British death toll mounts, told BBC radio he was sending envoys to fellow European countries in an attempt to convince them to share the burden.

He said he was confident that US President Barack Obama would largely accept the call from General Stanley McChrystal, who commands international forces in Afghanistan, for tens of thousands more US troops.

But, in addition, "we need our other NATO allies to help", Brown said.

"We can probably get another 5000 forces into Afghanistan from that NATO and outside NATO group, and we'll be part of that.

"I have taken the responsibility of asking others in Europe - and outside Europe actually - if they will back this strategy, which is partnering the Afghan forces, mentoring the Afghan forces.

"I believe I can persuade countries who said only a few weeks ago they would send no more troops to Afghanistan, that if we are training the Afghan forces and partnering, and if there is a way forward that allows troops to come home over time, it's right for them to contribute troops as well, and so burden-sharing will happen."

"I am pretty sure that what President Obama wants to do is very much in line with the counter-insurgency proposals of General McChrystal."

Britain has about 9,000 troops in Afghanistan, largely in the troubled southern Helmand province, where they are battling Taliban insurgents. Brown has made a conditional pledge of a further 500 troops.

Brown has endured sharp personal criticism in recent weeks over the mounting British death toll in Afghanistan, which stands at 232.

Britain has lost 95 soldiers in Afghanistan this year, the highest casualty levels since the 1982 Falklands war.

"We are prepared to put more troops into Afghanistan but there's got to be burden-sharing amongst the alliance," he said.

"I am suggesting (that) and sending people round Europe to persuade other countries that they should commit more troops. So we are in a process of persuading burden-sharing."

He added: "We are the only country actually to have said that we will provide more troops as things stand, but I believe that others will, including countries from NATO."

As he spoke, Germany announced that in January it would send 120 extra soldiers to Afghanistan, where its forces face mounting Taliban attacks.

The German parliament, which has set a 4500 limit on troop numbers in Afghanistan, is to renew the military mandate in December. There are currently 4300 German troops serving there.

The BBC said it had seen a leaked memo by British officials that proposed a strategic reconciliation between the Afghan government and Taliban leaders to quell the insurgency.

"This can be achieved by a combination of military pressure and clear signals that the option of an honourable exit from the fight exists," it said.

Brown said talking to the Taliban was "not a plan B".

He said if Taliban fighters were prepared to renounce violence and therefore "divide the Taliban and make the Taliban weaker, then we are in favour of the Afghans themselves leading a process of reconciliation".

But he added: "It is not our strategy. Our strategy is to build up Afghan institutions."

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