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Australia to double Afghan force Australia to double Afghan force
(30 minutes later)
Australia is planning to double its troops in Afghanistan by next year, to help counter the Taleban, Australian PM John Howard has announced. Australia is planning to almost double its troop numbers in Afghanistan by next year, PM John Howard has said.
Australia currently has some 550 soldiers in Afghanistan, supporting the Nato-led multinational force that is fighting the Taleban insurgency.
Mr Howard said the extra troops would include 300 special forces.Mr Howard said the extra troops would include 300 special forces.
"We're not losing the war but we will not win it without renewed and increased effort," he said, warning this could mean Australian casualties."We're not losing the war but we will not win it without renewed and increased effort," he said, warning this could mean Australian casualties.
Australia currently has some 550 soldiers in Afghanistan supporting the Nato-led multinational force. Dangerous region
Afghanistan is becoming more dangerous, given the resurgence of the Taleban, Mr Howard told a news conference. The total Australian deployment in Afghanistan will reach approximately 950 by mid-2007, and will peak at about 1,000 in the middle of 2008, according to Mr Howard.
"There is the distinct possibility of casualties and that should be understood and prepared for by the Australian public." "We have done this against the background of a deterioration in the security environment in southern Afghanistan," he told a news conference.
The total Australian deployment in Afghanistan would reach approximately 950 by mid-2007, and would peak at about 1,000 in the middle of 2008, Mr Howard said.
He said the special forces commandos would be sent to Uruzgan province, where a smaller task force operated for a year until last September.He said the special forces commandos would be sent to Uruzgan province, where a smaller task force operated for a year until last September.
"Their role will be to enhance provincial security by disrupting Taleban command and control supply routes and they will directly support the Australian reconstruction task force," Mr Howard said. "Their role will be to enhance provincial security by disrupting Taleban command and control supply routes, and they will directly support the Australian reconstruction task force," Mr Howard said.
Mr Howard said he had discussed the deployment with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US commanders during his visit last month to Kabul. The area is in the south-east of Afghanistan, near the heart of the Taleban rebellion.
The Taleban is maintaining strong opposition to Nato, particularly in the south and east. "I should make it clear that all of the intelligence advice suggests that there is a heightened security risk," Mr Howard said.
Over the weekend, six Canadian soldiers were killed in the worst single incident for the Nato-led force since 2005. "There is the distinct possibility of casualties, and that should be understood and prepared for by the Australian public," he added.
Other deployments will include air force radar crews in Kandahar, extra logistics and intelligence officers and an increased numbers of security personnel.
Taleban resurgence
Last year saw the fiercest fighting in Afghanistan since coalition troops ousted the Taleban in 2001, with some 4,000 people believed to have been killed - about a quarter of them civilians.Last year saw the fiercest fighting in Afghanistan since coalition troops ousted the Taleban in 2001, with some 4,000 people believed to have been killed - about a quarter of them civilians.
The situation has been getting worse still in recent months.
Over the weekend, six Canadian soldiers were killed in the bloodiest single incident for the Nato-led force since 2005.
Australia, a close US ally, was one of the first nations to commit troops to Afghanistan in late 2001, to join the US-led war to oust the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
Mr Howard's government has also sent about 1,500 troops to Iraq - a deployment which is fiercely opposed by the opposition Labor Party.
Labor has so far supported Australia's military involvement in Afghanistan.
Mr Howard said he had discussed the increased Afghan deployment with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US commanders during his visit last month to Kabul.
He said he appreciated a recent increase in Canadian troops numbers in the region, and wished some European countries would place fewer caveats on their Afghan deployments.