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| Karzai denies tensions with West | Karzai denies tensions with West |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| President Hamid Karzai has played down tensions over the role of foreign countries operating in Afghanistan. | President Hamid Karzai has played down tensions over the role of foreign countries operating in Afghanistan. |
| Speaking at a news conference in Kabul, Mr Karzai expressed gratitude to Nato members that had contributed troops. | Speaking at a news conference in Kabul, Mr Karzai expressed gratitude to Nato members that had contributed troops. |
| At his side, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice insisted progress was being made fighting insurgents but admitted the work was "not complete". | At his side, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice insisted progress was being made fighting insurgents but admitted the work was "not complete". |
| Her unannounced visit, with UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, comes amid differences in Nato over Afghanistan. | Her unannounced visit, with UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, comes amid differences in Nato over Afghanistan. |
| The US and UK have been urging other countries to share more of the combat burden in the south of the country, but many are reluctant. | The US and UK have been urging other countries to share more of the combat burden in the south of the country, but many are reluctant. |
| Map of main troop deployments | Map of main troop deployments |
| Speaking at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said some progress had been made. | Speaking at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said some progress had been made. |
| "As far as force generation is concerned, we are not there yet, I don't deny that... | "As far as force generation is concerned, we are not there yet, I don't deny that... |
| "We are making progress... but we're not there yet and we have to do better." | "We are making progress... but we're not there yet and we have to do better." |
| He cited Belgium's recent offer of four F-16 fighter planes and Poland's increase in its troop presence. | He cited Belgium's recent offer of four F-16 fighter planes and Poland's increase in its troop presence. |
| French officials have also said President Nicolas Sarkozy was considering sending more troops, but refused to confirm plans to send 700 paratroopers to the south. | French officials have also said President Nicolas Sarkozy was considering sending more troops, but refused to confirm plans to send 700 paratroopers to the south. |
| 'Misquoted' | 'Misquoted' |
| Relations between the Afghan government and Nato allies had been strained by Mr Karzai's assertion that despite British efforts, the situation had worsened in southern Helmand province where most UK forces are based. | Relations between the Afghan government and Nato allies had been strained by Mr Karzai's assertion that despite British efforts, the situation had worsened in southern Helmand province where most UK forces are based. |
| He also recently blocked the appointment of the UK's Paddy Ashdown as a UN envoy. | He also recently blocked the appointment of the UK's Paddy Ashdown as a UN envoy. |
| If terrorism is not dealt with in Afghanistan, the consequences will be felt not just in Afghanistan and the region, but also in London, Brussels and Amsterdam Jaap de Hoop SchefferNato Secretary General href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7228649.stm">Q&A: Isaf troopsWorld effort under threatUK-Afghan ties hit a low | |
| But at the news conference he played down his criticism, saying it was a "personal matter of sadness" that the appointment of Lord Ashdown "did not work out". | But at the news conference he played down his criticism, saying it was a "personal matter of sadness" that the appointment of Lord Ashdown "did not work out". |
| He said his remarks about the situation in Helmand province had been "misquoted", adding: "We appreciate the British role in Afghanistan and the contribution they have made." | He said his remarks about the situation in Helmand province had been "misquoted", adding: "We appreciate the British role in Afghanistan and the contribution they have made." |
| Afghanistan "hasn't been forgotten" by the international community, he said. | Afghanistan "hasn't been forgotten" by the international community, he said. |
| The BBC's Alistair Leithead in Kabul says that despite the handshakes and camera flashes at his meeting with Ms Rice and Mr Miliband, there is a lot more to do be done behind the scenes to repair relations and get the international community's efforts properly coordinated. | The BBC's Alistair Leithead in Kabul says that despite the handshakes and camera flashes at his meeting with Ms Rice and Mr Miliband, there is a lot more to do be done behind the scenes to repair relations and get the international community's efforts properly coordinated. |
| 'Terror threat' | 'Terror threat' |
| Correspondents say Mr Karzai's remarks accorded with the display of unity by all three participants at the conference, with neither Ms Rice nor Mr Miliband making explicit reference to the current differences in Nato over troop commitments to the country. | Correspondents say Mr Karzai's remarks accorded with the display of unity by all three participants at the conference, with neither Ms Rice nor Mr Miliband making explicit reference to the current differences in Nato over troop commitments to the country. |
| But earlier, Mr de Hoop Scheffer said he would be spelling out to the Nato ministers that member nations must do more to train and equip the Afghan army. | But earlier, Mr de Hoop Scheffer said he would be spelling out to the Nato ministers that member nations must do more to train and equip the Afghan army. |
| Nato's mission in the country was one of necessity, not choice, he added. | Nato's mission in the country was one of necessity, not choice, he added. |
| "This is the front line in the fight against terrorism, and what is happening in the Hindu Kush matters, because if terrorism is not dealt with in Afghanistan, the consequences will be felt not just in Afghanistan and the region, but also in London, Brussels and Amsterdam," he told the BBC. | "This is the front line in the fight against terrorism, and what is happening in the Hindu Kush matters, because if terrorism is not dealt with in Afghanistan, the consequences will be felt not just in Afghanistan and the region, but also in London, Brussels and Amsterdam," he told the BBC. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The faster we send more troops to clear this mess up, the faster a tactical withdrawal can take place Ben Lowen, Halifax, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The faster we send more troops to clear this mess up, the faster a tactical withdrawal can take place Ben Lowen, Halifax, UK Send us your comments |
| Speaking earlier to frontline forces in Kandahar, Ms Rice echoed the theme, saying their fight was necessary to prevent "the attacks against our cities and against our people that originated here". | Speaking earlier to frontline forces in Kandahar, Ms Rice echoed the theme, saying their fight was necessary to prevent "the attacks against our cities and against our people that originated here". |
| Despite the recent squabbles over burden-sharing in Afghanistan, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Vilnius, it is unlikely, however, that more combat troops will be offered at the two-day Lithuanian meeting. | Despite the recent squabbles over burden-sharing in Afghanistan, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Vilnius, it is unlikely, however, that more combat troops will be offered at the two-day Lithuanian meeting. |
| But officials are hoping it will pave the way for further contributions to be made at Nato's summit in Bucharest in April, she says. | But officials are hoping it will pave the way for further contributions to be made at Nato's summit in Bucharest in April, she says. |
| Nato split | Nato split |
| Most of the fighting in the volatile southern provinces is being done by troops from the US, UK, Canada and the Netherlands. | Most of the fighting in the volatile southern provinces is being done by troops from the US, UK, Canada and the Netherlands. |
| Many US allies, including Germany, Spain, Turkey and Italy, have refused to send significant numbers of combat forces there. | Many US allies, including Germany, Spain, Turkey and Italy, have refused to send significant numbers of combat forces there. |
| Earlier, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Nato's future was at risk due to the refusal of some members to participate in the alliance's mission. | Earlier, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Nato's future was at risk due to the refusal of some members to participate in the alliance's mission. |
| On Tuesday, a London-based think-tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), warned that Afghanistan faced becoming a "failed state" if operations by Nato were unsuccessful. | On Tuesday, a London-based think-tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), warned that Afghanistan faced becoming a "failed state" if operations by Nato were unsuccessful. |
| The IISS report echoed the tone of a number of other studies in the last week, including one from the influential US-based Afghanistan Study Group. | The IISS report echoed the tone of a number of other studies in the last week, including one from the influential US-based Afghanistan Study Group. |
| ISAF REGIONAL COMMANDS AND RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS Countries contributing more than 1,000 troops (6 February 2008): Australia - 1,070Canada 2,500France 1,515Germany - 3,210Italy - 2,880 Netherlands - 1,650Poland - 1,100UK - 7,800US - 15,000 Figures approximateSource: ISAF | ISAF REGIONAL COMMANDS AND RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS Countries contributing more than 1,000 troops (6 February 2008): Australia - 1,070Canada 2,500France 1,515Germany - 3,210Italy - 2,880 Netherlands - 1,650Poland - 1,100UK - 7,800US - 15,000 Figures approximateSource: ISAF |
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