The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Budapest

The United States will appeal to NATO allies on Thursday to send more troops to fight Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, despite the prospect of spending cuts because of the global financial crisis.

Defense ministers of the 26-nation alliance hold a two-day meeting in Budapest against a backdrop of a rise in violence in Afghanistan even though there has been a big increase in the size of the NATO-led international force in the past two years.

Commanders of the 50,700-strong force are seeking up to 12,000 more troops, but Washington's European allies have been reluctant to commit additional numbers. NATO is also seeking to plug shortfalls in equipment such as helicopters and to resolve differences among member countries over U.S. calls for a more aggressive fight against the drugs trade that fuels the Taliban insurgency.

On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet agreed to allow for a boosting of German troop numbers in Afghanistan by 1,000 to up to 4,500. But Berlin has resisted Washington's calls to station troops in the insurgent-troubled south.

Washington has urged countries in southeastern Europe, including aspiring NATO members, to send more troops.

The United States plans to increase its troop strength in Afghanistan from the present 33,000, which include 13,000 under NATO command, but U.S. officials are concerned allies will see this as an excuse not to meet pledges.

"I want to make sure that everybody understands that the increases in U.S. forces are not seen as replacements for NATO contributions. They're reinforcement," U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters traveling with him to Budapest.

U.S. officials said this week Washington had asked Japan and NATO allies that have refused to send troops to help pay the estimated $17 billion needed to build the Afghan army to a target strength of 134,000.

NATO says its mission is to help stabilize Afghanistan and allow Afghan forces to take over, but concedes this is a long-term task and that allies must be engaged for many years.

Seven years after U.S.-led forces overthrew the then Taliban government following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Britain's military commander and ambassador in Afghanistan gave a gloomy assessment of the Western effort and said they thought the war against the Taliban could not be won.

Gates dismissed such comments as defeatist but said part of the solution in Afghanistan would be negotiating with members of the Taliban willing to work with the government in Kabul.

NATO officials acknowledge members face a growing list of demands, including modernizing forces and meeting spending targets, without a clear idea of what funds will be available as big sums are diverted to tackling the global financial crisis.

A new challenge is a resurgent Russia and ministers will discuss what can be done to help NATO hopeful Georgia rebuild its military, which was shattered by Moscow's August invasion.

NATO's U.S. military commander wants plans drawn up to protect newer alliance nations, some of which were part of the former Soviet bloc, that feel threatened by Russia's resurgence.

U.S. officials say this faces resistance from countries like Germany and France which are worried about Moscow's response.