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Reinforcements to fight Taleban US boosts force fighting Taleban
(about 3 hours later)
The Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen David Richards, says his force will be bolstered with an extra brigade of troops. The United States has agreed to bolster the Nato forces fighting the Taleban and their allies in Afghanistan.
Full details have not been announced but it could mean up to 3,500 extra troops being deployed in the fight against the resurgent Taleban. The Pentagon said 3,200 men of the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division would stay on in the country for four months.
The BBC's World Affairs correspondent Nick Childs said the Taleban was expected to mount a spring offensive. The Americans said the decision would enable Nato to "maintain the initiative and build upon the success achieved in promoting stability and security".
It is thought the extra troops will come from the United States. The announcement comes amid expectations that the Taleban will to mount a spring offensive.
The announcement comes only days after Gen Richards told a British newspaper he had "less troops than needed" to complete his task. It comes only days after the Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen David Richards, told a British newspaper he had "less troops than needed" to complete his task.
According to the Washington Post newspaper, the White House is also planning to increase economic aid to the government of President Hamid Karzai, amid growing concerns about the increased level of violence and the political situation in the country. Meanwhile US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to ask Congress for an extra $8bn in economic aid to the government of President Hamid Karzai, amid growing concerns about the increased level of violence and the political situation in the country.
Violent yearViolent year
Our correspondent says that, after the most violent year in the country since the US-led invasion in 2001, there is clearly concern in the Bush administration that, unless something is done, Afghanistan risks going the way of Iraq. BBC World affairs correspondent Nick Childs says that, after the most violent year in the country since the US-led invasion in 2001, there is clearly concern in the Bush administration that, unless something is done, Afghanistan risks going the way of Iraq.
It is thought the extra troop numbers might come from ordering American soldiers, due for redeployment elsewhere, to stay on in the country for an extra four months.
There are currently 24,000 US troops in the country, who make up the bulk of the foreign military presence.There are currently 24,000 US troops in the country, who make up the bulk of the foreign military presence.
Nato commanders have said their forces were around 10% under strength due to some nations failing to make good on pledges to provide more troops.
Just under half the US force are part of the 31,000-strong Nato peacekeeping command - the rest are on a separate mission to hunt down al-Qaeda fighters.Just under half the US force are part of the 31,000-strong Nato peacekeeping command - the rest are on a separate mission to hunt down al-Qaeda fighters.
On top of the boost in troop numbers, the Washington Post says the Bush administration is going to ask Congress for up to $8bn for new reconstruction aid for the country. We want to have our own offensive, and it should be civilian and military, it should be broad gauged, it should be reconstruction, development, it should be counter-narcotics, and it should be security and military, as well. Kurt VolkerDep Ass Sec of State
The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is also expected again to press US allies to do more on the military and reconstruction fronts in Afghanistan at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels on Friday. Ms Rice is also expected again to press US allies to do more on the military and reconstruction fronts in Afghanistan at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels on Friday.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Volker told the AFP news agency: "We want to have our own offensive, and it should be civilian and military, it should be broad gauged, it should be reconstruction, development, it should be counter-narcotics, and it should be security and military, as well.
"That's what she wants to talk about with her counterparts, to go through the various elements of what's needed in Afghanistan and go from a general level of political commitment to a concrete level of actual support."