Afghan commitment

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen responded with enthusiasm at a press conference on Wednesday to US President Barack Obama's announcement. He also called on other NATO members to follow Obama's lead.

"I call on all the allies to boost their troop numbers in Afghanistan," he told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

"This is not just America's war," he said. "What is happening in Afghanistan poses a clear and present danger to the citizens in all our countries. The balance within the alliance is at stake."

More expected from Germany and France

Rasmussen's confidence came despite France and Germany already refusing to pledge more troops. The US said it expected its NATO allies to contribute an extra 5,000 - 7,000 soldiers. According to media reports this would mean Germany contributing up to 2,500 troops. Both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy responded to Obama's decision Wednesday by promising to reconsider their Afghanistan policy.

Merkel and Sarkozy said they intended to make a final decision at the NATO conference in London scheduled for the end of January.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on Wednesday for coalition countries to back US President Barack Obama's plans to send an extra 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.

"I call on all our allies to unite behind President Obama's strategy," said Brown, who on Monday confirmed that Britain would send an extra 500 soldiers - taking Britain's force level to 9,500 - to help tackle worsening violence and train Afghan forces.

"Britain will continue to play its full part in persuading other countries to offer troops to the Afghanistan campaign."

Afghan reaction

The Afghan government welcomed Obama's new strategy, hoping it would bring about a quick end to the war against the Taliban. "We are satisfied with the new US strategy. We particularly welcome the reassurance of the United States' long-term commitment to Afghanistan," senior foreign ministry adviser Daud Muradyan told reporters.

"That's more important for us than the additional troops," he said, dismissing comparisons being made in the United States between the conflict in Afghanistan and US wars in Vietnam and Iraq.

"Additional troops alone cannot be the solution, It can, however, be part of a comprehensive strategy to include other aspects such as pressuring Pakistan, increasing financial support and civilian efforts," he said.

bk/dpa/Reuters/AFP
Editor: Chuck Penfold