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Nato to discuss Afghanistan boost Nato to discuss Afghanistan boost
(10 minutes later)
Nato foreign ministers are in Brussels to discuss stepping up the alliance's campaign in Afghanistan, in advance of an expected offensive from the Taleban.Nato foreign ministers are in Brussels to discuss stepping up the alliance's campaign in Afghanistan, in advance of an expected offensive from the Taleban.
The US has announced it would pour an extra $10.6bn into its Afghan effort.The US has announced it would pour an extra $10.6bn into its Afghan effort.
The Pentagon also promised 3,200 of its troops would remain in the country for an extra four months after their tour of duty is meant to end.The Pentagon also promised 3,200 of its troops would remain in the country for an extra four months after their tour of duty is meant to end.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on other Nato members to do more to help Afghanistan.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on other Nato members to do more to help Afghanistan.
The BBC's Rob Watson in Brussels says this latest push by Washington is motivated in part by a desire to show its Nato allies it is not abandoning Afghanistan despite its troubles in Iraq.The BBC's Rob Watson in Brussels says this latest push by Washington is motivated in part by a desire to show its Nato allies it is not abandoning Afghanistan despite its troubles in Iraq.
But, he adds, the US is also genuinely worried that Afghanistan could slip backwards without more commitment from the international community.But, he adds, the US is also genuinely worried that Afghanistan could slip backwards without more commitment from the international community.
We are looking for others to step up their effort with us - stepping up across the board Richard BoucherState department On her way to Brussels, Ms Rice told reporters $8.6bn of the extra money would be spent on security, including training and equipping Afghan forces, while $2bn would go towards reconstruction.We are looking for others to step up their effort with us - stepping up across the board Richard BoucherState department On her way to Brussels, Ms Rice told reporters $8.6bn of the extra money would be spent on security, including training and equipping Afghan forces, while $2bn would go towards reconstruction.
The money would be spent over the next two years.The money would be spent over the next two years.
It is a big funding increase over the $14bn the US has spent in Afghanistan since 2001.It is a big funding increase over the $14bn the US has spent in Afghanistan since 2001.
Under strengthUnder strength
"We are looking for others to step up their effort with us - stepping up across the board," said senior state department official Richard Boucher in Brussels on the eve of the meeting."We are looking for others to step up their effort with us - stepping up across the board," said senior state department official Richard Boucher in Brussels on the eve of the meeting.
The US has 24,000 troops in the country - more than other Nato nations put together.The US has 24,000 troops in the country - more than other Nato nations put together.
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.
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.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.
Bloodshed in Afghanistan last year returned to levels not seen since the fall of the Taleban in late 2001, with the southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar, and areas in the east of the country particularly hard-hit. Bloodshed in Afghanistan last year returned to levels not seen since the fall of the Taleban in late 2001.
The southern provinces of Helmand, Kandahar, and Uruzgan, as well as the east of the country, are particularly hard-hit.
Some 4,000 people are believed to have died in 2006 in the insurgency - about a quarter of them civilians.Some 4,000 people are believed to have died in 2006 in the insurgency - about a quarter of them civilians.