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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US seeks troops for Afghanistan | US seeks troops for Afghanistan |
| (3 days later) | |
| US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates has urged Germany to send more troops to Afghanistan. | US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates has urged Germany to send more troops to Afghanistan. |
| He warned that without reinforcements the Nato-led force could lose credibility in the country. | He warned that without reinforcements the Nato-led force could lose credibility in the country. |
| A German newspaper described Mr Gates' letter to German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung as "unusually stern", and its response equally blunt. | |
| Correspondents say the exchange comes amid growing signs of strain in the mission and in Nato as a whole. | Correspondents say the exchange comes amid growing signs of strain in the mission and in Nato as a whole. |
| Map of main troop deployments | |
| Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper has issued both US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown with an ultimatum - that Canada will end its military mission in Afghanistan if Nato does not put more soldiers in the dangerous south of the country. | Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper has issued both US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown with an ultimatum - that Canada will end its military mission in Afghanistan if Nato does not put more soldiers in the dangerous south of the country. |
| New mandate | New mandate |
| Mr Gates's appeal comes amid strains in the Nato alliance | Mr Gates's appeal comes amid strains in the Nato alliance |
| The newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung said it was sent about 10 days ago. | |
| It asks for Germany to consider a new mandate which could allow thousands more troops to be sent to Afghanistan with some deployed to the more dangerous south. | It asks for Germany to consider a new mandate which could allow thousands more troops to be sent to Afghanistan with some deployed to the more dangerous south. |
| The Nato-led force has almost 37,000 troops in Afghanistan. | The Nato-led force has almost 37,000 troops in Afghanistan. |
| Why the Taleban feel confident | |
| Germany currently has 3,200 troops stationed in northern Afghanistan and around the capital, Kabul. | Germany currently has 3,200 troops stationed in northern Afghanistan and around the capital, Kabul. |
| According to the current parliamentary mandate, the troops can only be sent elsewhere under exceptional circumstances. | According to the current parliamentary mandate, the troops can only be sent elsewhere under exceptional circumstances. |
| The letter complains of a heavy burden on US troops and of a possible split in the Nato alliance. | The letter complains of a heavy burden on US troops and of a possible split in the Nato alliance. |
| The US has already promised to send an extra 3,000 US marines - but is urging other Nato countries including France and Germany to do more. | The US has already promised to send an extra 3,000 US marines - but is urging other Nato countries including France and Germany to do more. |
| So far most Nato members have refused to send significant numbers to southern Afghanistan. | So far most Nato members have refused to send significant numbers to southern Afghanistan. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Germany is a part of Nato and is obliged to send in more troopsRob, Wirral, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Germany is a part of Nato and is obliged to send in more troopsRob, Wirral, UK Send us your comments |
| In a meeting with Mr Gates in Washington on Thursday, French Defence Minister Herve Morin called for a "comprehensive strategy" in Afghanistan but failed to pledge any more combat troops. | In a meeting with Mr Gates in Washington on Thursday, French Defence Minister Herve Morin called for a "comprehensive strategy" in Afghanistan but failed to pledge any more combat troops. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says the US has tried to avoid a public row with Nato members. | The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says the US has tried to avoid a public row with Nato members. |
| But speaking to a senate committee a senior US diplomat stated that "we expect more from our Nato allies", adding that too few allies had combat troops fighting the insurgents in the south. | But speaking to a senate committee a senior US diplomat stated that "we expect more from our Nato allies", adding that too few allies had combat troops fighting the insurgents in the south. |
| LEAD INTERNATIONAL FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN Locations refer to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Total contributing nations: 39ISAF total strength: Approx 41,700 | |
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