Nato head bemoans troop shortage

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8094803.stm

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Nato's outgoing supreme commander has said that a lack of troops is putting severe constraints on its military operations in Afghanistan.

Gen John Craddock told BBC World News that the shortage of troops made him frustrated every day.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of defence ministers in Brussels, Gen Craddock said that Nato's flexibility and planning were being restricted.

He said this was because other member countries had not sent enough troops.

"Every day I am frustrated," Gen Craddock said.

"As a commander I want the requirements to conduct the operation as directed filled up. And yet we have not had the entire statement of requirements filled by Nato members or partners."

The general said that 70 caveats over troop deployments put forward by Nato members were a "severe constraint and restriction" on the flexibility of his commanders at all levels whether in Kabul or in the regions.

He said that at every international ministerial meeting and conference held on Afghanistan, he had implored those present "to go back and reduce those caveats".

'Taliban tactics'

There are more than 70,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, mostly under Nato command. US President Barack Obama is to send 21,000 additional US troops, while considering a further deployment of 10,000.

Gen Craddock said that Nato is currently at a stalemate fighting the Taliban in the south and east of Afghanistan, but extra forces there would create more engagement opportunities.

He stressed that a "major part" of defeating the militants would not be achieved by military action alone but that it would require civil action and "the development of institutions and functions once security is in place".

He said that while Nato deplored and tried to avoid civilian casualties, matters were not helped by the Taliban's tactics of using civilians as human shields.

The general said that in order to prevail in Afghanistan, safe havens and sanctuaries in Pakistan "must be minimised or completely reduced".

He said that Nato held regular meetings with the Pakistani military and shared information and intelligence.