This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/5322698.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Afghan force 'needs more troops' | Afghan force 'needs more troops' |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Nato's leaders have urged member countries to provide reinforcements to help in its campaign against Taleban guerrillas in southern Afghanistan. | Nato's leaders have urged member countries to provide reinforcements to help in its campaign against Taleban guerrillas in southern Afghanistan. |
| Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer criticised some member states for, in his view, not doing enough. | Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer criticised some member states for, in his view, not doing enough. |
| The commander of British forces in Afghanistan has meanwhile said combat there is more intense than in Iraq. | |
| Brigadier Ed Butler said his troops were being attacked up to a dozen times a day but their morale remained high. | |
| "The intensity and ferocity of the fighting is far greater than in Iraq on a daily basis," Brig Butler told the UK's ITV News programme. | |
| He said British forces had been involved in "fighting that is up close and personal" that at times included hand-to-hand combat. | |
| Reinforcements | |
| Earlier, Nato's top commander, Gen James Jones, said the alliance had been taken aback by the scale of violence in the region. | |
| But he predicted that the coming weeks would be decisive in the fight against the insurgents. | But he predicted that the coming weeks would be decisive in the fight against the insurgents. |
| Commanders on the ground had asked for several hundred additional troops and more helicopters and airlift, he said. | Commanders on the ground had asked for several hundred additional troops and more helicopters and airlift, he said. |
| "We are talking about modest reinforcements," he told reporters at Nato European headquarters in Belgium. | "We are talking about modest reinforcements," he told reporters at Nato European headquarters in Belgium. |
| We should recognise we are a little bit surprised at the level of intensity, and that the opposition in some areas are not relying on traditional hit-and-run tactics Gen James Jones Send us your comments Quick guide: Afghanistan | We should recognise we are a little bit surprised at the level of intensity, and that the opposition in some areas are not relying on traditional hit-and-run tactics Gen James Jones Send us your comments Quick guide: Afghanistan |
| His comments were echoed by Mr de Hoop Scheffer. | His comments were echoed by Mr de Hoop Scheffer. |
| "Those allies who perhaps are doing less in Afghanistan should think: 'Shouldn't we do more?' There are certainly a number of allies who can do more," he told reporters in Brussels. | "Those allies who perhaps are doing less in Afghanistan should think: 'Shouldn't we do more?' There are certainly a number of allies who can do more," he told reporters in Brussels. |
| Several Nato soldiers, most of them British or Canadian, have been killed in fierce fighting with Taleban guerrillas since the alliance extended its peacekeeping mission in the south a month ago. | Several Nato soldiers, most of them British or Canadian, have been killed in fierce fighting with Taleban guerrillas since the alliance extended its peacekeeping mission in the south a month ago. |
| Nato troops took over leadership of military operations in the region from the US in July. | Nato troops took over leadership of military operations in the region from the US in July. |
| Gen Jones is due to meet generals from the 26 Nato nations this weekend in Warsaw, Poland. | Gen Jones is due to meet generals from the 26 Nato nations this weekend in Warsaw, Poland. |
| The US marine general said he would initially ask for reinforcements from existing contributors to the 37-nation International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), including Germany, which has several thousand troops in the calmer north of the country. | The US marine general said he would initially ask for reinforcements from existing contributors to the 37-nation International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), including Germany, which has several thousand troops in the calmer north of the country. |
| Urgently needed | Urgently needed |
| Gen Jones told reporters that Nato forces had expected some opposition in southern Afghanistan, but added: "We should recognise we are a little bit surprised at the level of intensity, and that the opposition in some areas are not relying on traditional hit-and-run tactics." | Gen Jones told reporters that Nato forces had expected some opposition in southern Afghanistan, but added: "We should recognise we are a little bit surprised at the level of intensity, and that the opposition in some areas are not relying on traditional hit-and-run tactics." |
| Canadian losses mount Who are the militants? Nato mission under pressure | Canadian losses mount Who are the militants? Nato mission under pressure |
| However, he said he was confident the situation could be contained relatively quickly. | However, he said he was confident the situation could be contained relatively quickly. |
| He said reinforcements "will help us reduce casualties and help us bring this to a successful conclusion in a shorter period of time". | He said reinforcements "will help us reduce casualties and help us bring this to a successful conclusion in a shorter period of time". |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the general's comments are a blunt recognition that Nato commanders do not have the resources they need. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the general's comments are a blunt recognition that Nato commanders do not have the resources they need. |
| Many analysts believe there were serious shortcomings in the intelligence assessments that established the initial mission, and that harder fighting was to be expected. | Many analysts believe there were serious shortcomings in the intelligence assessments that established the initial mission, and that harder fighting was to be expected. |
| What is urgently needed, our correspondent says, is a battle group of several hundred men with reconnaissance and support elements which would give commanders the flexibility they say they need. | What is urgently needed, our correspondent says, is a battle group of several hundred men with reconnaissance and support elements which would give commanders the flexibility they say they need. |
| But even if this reinforcement is forthcoming, many analysts are still sceptical that Nato can achieve its wider goals in Afghanistan, our correspondent adds. | But even if this reinforcement is forthcoming, many analysts are still sceptical that Nato can achieve its wider goals in Afghanistan, our correspondent adds. |
| 'No interference' | 'No interference' |
| The Taleban ruled Afghanistan until late 2001 when they were toppled by US-led forces in the wake of the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington. | The Taleban ruled Afghanistan until late 2001 when they were toppled by US-led forces in the wake of the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington. |
| Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday acknowledged that al-Qaeda and Taleban militants continue to cross from Pakistan into Afghanistan to launch attacks. | Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday acknowledged that al-Qaeda and Taleban militants continue to cross from Pakistan into Afghanistan to launch attacks. |
| But the president, wrapping up a two-day visit to Afghanistan, denied allegations that Pakistan's powerful military Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was helping them. | But the president, wrapping up a two-day visit to Afghanistan, denied allegations that Pakistan's powerful military Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was helping them. |
| "Let me say neither the government of Pakistan nor the ISI is involved in any kind of interference inside Afghanistan," he told Afghan government and army officials. | |