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Nato to extend Afghan operations Nato to extend Afghan operations
(40 minutes later)
Nato has announced that it will extend its mission in Afghanistan to cover the whole of the insurgency-hit country.Nato has announced that it will extend its mission in Afghanistan to cover the whole of the insurgency-hit country.
The move will take the alliance into the eastern parts of Afghanistan and bring up to 12,000 American troops under Nato command.The move will take the alliance into the eastern parts of Afghanistan and bring up to 12,000 American troops under Nato command.
A Nato official said the decision would be implemented in the next few weeks.A Nato official said the decision would be implemented in the next few weeks.
The announcement came as the US military said that militant attacks near the Pakistani border had tripled in some areas.The announcement came as the US military said that militant attacks near the Pakistani border had tripled in some areas.
The rise in activity comes despite a peace agreement meant to end violence by pro-Taleban militants in Pakistan's North Waziristan border area.The rise in activity comes despite a peace agreement meant to end violence by pro-Taleban militants in Pakistan's North Waziristan border area.
Correspondents say the deal has increased friction with Afghanistan.Correspondents say the deal has increased friction with Afghanistan.
'Moving forward''Moving forward'
The decision to extend the alliance's security mission in Afghanistan was approved by Nato defence ministers meeting in Slovenia, spokesman James Appathurai said.The decision to extend the alliance's security mission in Afghanistan was approved by Nato defence ministers meeting in Slovenia, spokesman James Appathurai said.
ISI is a disciplined force, breaking the back of al-Qaeda President Musharraf Bush seeks leaders' truce UK to allay Musharraf concern If you are a member of an alliance based on solidarity, you have to deliver Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Nato Secretary General Bush seeks leaders' truce UK to allay Musharraf concern
US forces already in the region will come under the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) command, taking the total number of troops to around 32,000.US forces already in the region will come under the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) command, taking the total number of troops to around 32,000.
He said the decision was a vote of confidence for the Nato mission.He said the decision was a vote of confidence for the Nato mission.
"What it shows is that this operation is moving forward," he said. "I think it demonstrates considerable success.""What it shows is that this operation is moving forward," he said. "I think it demonstrates considerable success."
Asked if the troops could be redeployed in the restive south, Mr Appathurai said he knew of no limits from Washington on troop movements.Asked if the troops could be redeployed in the restive south, Mr Appathurai said he knew of no limits from Washington on troop movements.
The defence ministers also agreed on a plan to donate surplus military equipment to Afghanistan's armed forces, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said.
"There were in rough numbers thousands of weapons offered up, and I believe probably millions of rounds of ammunition," the Associated Press news agency quoted US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as saying.
But Nato is still seeking commitments, particularly from European countries, to send an extra 2,500 soldiers.
"If you are a member of an alliance based on solidarity, you have to deliver," the Nato leader said. "We need to do more."
'Increased activity'
Violence in Afghanistan has increased in recent months as international troops have clashed with a resurgent Taleban.Violence in Afghanistan has increased in recent months as international troops have clashed with a resurgent Taleban.
The Afghan and Pakistani presidents accuse each other of failing to act against the militants. The Afghan and Pakistani presidents accuse each other of failing to act against the militants, with Afghan leader Hamid Karzai particularly criticising Gen Pervez Musharraf's deal with pro-Taleban militants.
Afghan leader Hamid Karzai has particularly criticised Gen Pervez Musharraf's deal with pro-Taleban militants on the Pakistani border. He says attacks have gone up and the US findings appeared to confirm this.
He says attacks have increased and the US findings appeared to confirm this.
"There has been an increase in the activity certainly along the border region especially in the south-east areas across from Waziristan... in [Afghanistan's] Paktika and Khost provinces," Lt Col John Paradis of the US military told a news conference."There has been an increase in the activity certainly along the border region especially in the south-east areas across from Waziristan... in [Afghanistan's] Paktika and Khost provinces," Lt Col John Paradis of the US military told a news conference.
There were "in some cases two-fold, in some cases three-fold increases in the number of attacks," he said.There were "in some cases two-fold, in some cases three-fold increases in the number of attacks," he said.
US talks Mr Karzai has also suggested that Pakistan has turned a blind eye to Taleban supporters using parts of the country to train and launch attacks on Afghanistan.
Mr Karzai has also suggested that Pakistan has turned a blind eye to Taleban supporters using parts of the country to train and launch attacks on Afghanistan, and accuses Pakistan of sheltering former Taleban leaders.
Musharraf and Karzai did not shake handsMusharraf and Karzai did not shake hands
US President George W Bush hosted talks between Mr Karzai and Gen Musharraf in Washington on Tuesday in what correspondents said was an attempt to end spats between the two leaders.US President George W Bush hosted talks between Mr Karzai and Gen Musharraf in Washington on Tuesday in what correspondents said was an attempt to end spats between the two leaders.
At a public appearance after the talks the two leaders did not speak to each other or shake hands. But at a public appearance after the talks the two leaders did not speak to each other or shake hands.
Gen Musharraf is now in the UK for talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair for talks on security co-operation and Afghanistan.Gen Musharraf is now in the UK for talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair for talks on security co-operation and Afghanistan.
But the meeting is expected to be overshadowed by a leaked paper which said that Pakistan's intelligence service, ISI, had indirectly helped the Taleban and al-Qaeda.But the meeting is expected to be overshadowed by a leaked paper which said that Pakistan's intelligence service, ISI, had indirectly helped the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
Gen Musharraf angrily rejected the findings in the research paper from the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD).Gen Musharraf angrily rejected the findings in the research paper from the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD).
In a BBC TV interview, he said his intelligence services were doing an "excellent job" in tracking down and apprehending militants, and that he rejected "200%" calls to dismantle them.In a BBC TV interview, he said his intelligence services were doing an "excellent job" in tracking down and apprehending militants, and that he rejected "200%" calls to dismantle them.
The MoD said the allegations in no way represented its views or those of the British government.The MoD said the allegations in no way represented its views or those of the British government.