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/americas/7898524.stm

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
US urges Nato to up Afghan effort US faces fresh Afghan obstacles
(about 2 hours later)
The US has urged its Nato allies to increase their troop levels in Afghanistan to fight the Taleban. Kyrgyz MPs have voted to close a key US base supplying troops in Afghanistan, hours before Nato chiefs meet to study a US plea to boost troop levels.
The comments were made by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates ahead of Thursday's Nato summit in Poland. The Manas base in Kyrgyzstan is used by thousands of US soldiers every month on their way to and from Afghanistan.
They came as MPs in Kyrgyzstan voted to close a strategic US air base that supports US and Nato operations. The US is extremely concerned about a resurgence of the Taleban, and said this week it would send an additional 17,000 troops there.
Thousands of US soldiers have been passing through the Manas base every month on their way in and out of Afghanistan. It will ask Nato to provide more troops ahead of general elections in August.
Once President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signs the bill, the US has 180 days to leave the base. There clearly will be expectations that the allies must do more Robert GatesUS defence secretary class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7869322.stm">Key Kyrgyz base closure threat class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7898713.stm">UK backs US Nato troops call
There clearly will be expectations that the allies must do more Robert GatesUS defence secretary class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7869322.stm">Key Kyrgyz base closure threat US Defence Secretary Robert Gates will present the request to Nato allies in Krakow on Thursday.
Meanwhile, America's top commander in Afghanistan predicted that the coming year would be "tough". He said the message was that the new US administration was prepared to make additional commitments to Afghanistan, but that it expected other allies to do more too.
Gen David McKiernan was speaking shortly after US President Barack Obama said he would deploy an additional 17,000 US soldiers in Afghanistan. The 17,000 increase will bring the number of US forces in Afghanistan to more than 50,000.
Mr Obama said the extra US troops had been due to go to Iraq but were being redirected to "meet urgent security needs".
This will bring the number of US forces in Afghanistan to more than 50,000.
The US currently has about 14,000 troops serving with a Nato-led mission. There are also 19,000 US troops under sole US command charged with fighting Taleban and al-Qaeda insurgents.The US currently has about 14,000 troops serving with a Nato-led mission. There are also 19,000 US troops under sole US command charged with fighting Taleban and al-Qaeda insurgents.
'Serious question marks' 'Tough year'
"The [US] administration is prepared... to make additional commitments to Afghanistan, but there clearly will be expectations that the allies must do more as well," Mr Gates said. The Kyrgyz parliament voted in favour of closing the Manas air base by 78 votes to one.
If President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signs the bill, the US will have 180 days to leave the base - its only one in Central Asia.
With supply lines to Afghanistan via Pakistan increasingly threatened by militant attacks, Washington has intensified talks with other countries in the region to find an alternative to Manas.
Graph: US troop numbers in Afghanistan since 2001Graph: US troop numbers in Afghanistan since 2001
He said Washington was especially keen for its allies to supply troops ahead of Afghanistan's presidential elections in August, adding that "the response so far has been disappointing". America's top commander in Afghanistan, Gen David McKiernan, has predicted that the coming year will be "tough".
He was speaking on board a US military plane en route to the two-day Nato meeting in Krakow. Some countries have indicated that they may be able to offer more help over the spring and summer to improve security ahead of the poll.
President Obama's move to send the extra troops to Afghanistan has raised the pressure on other allies to contribute more combat forces as well as civilian aid to help stabilise the country, the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt in Krakow says. The UK's defence minister John Hutton told the BBC that Nato's European allies needed to do more to ensure a fairer burden-sharing of responsibilities in Afghanistan.
It has also raised serious question marks over some Nato members' resolve and political will, our correspondent says.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME She adds that Britain is also expected to add to that pressure on several Western European allies to shoulder a fairer share of the burden.
Britain is the second biggest contributor to the Nato-led mission, with more than 8,000 troops deployed in Afghanistan.Britain is the second biggest contributor to the Nato-led mission, with more than 8,000 troops deployed in Afghanistan.
Few others appear willing to offer substantially more boots on the ground, despite the goodwill towards the new US leadership, our correspondent says. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME
She says that at the very least though, Nato is hoping that more nations will pledge further funds, equipment and help on the civilian side in the run-up to the Afghan elections. However, there is a growing realisation in the US and UK that allies such as Germany, France and Italy are unlikely to offer significant numbers of extra combat forces, or change the nature of their missions, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Krakow.
But those countries unwilling or unable to send more combat troops will also be pushed for extra help and funding on the civil side, focussing on governance, police training and the fight against drugs, our correspondent says.
Speaking on board a US military plane en route to the two-day Nato meeting, Mr Gates said the new US administration was "prepared... to make additional commitments to Afghanistan, but there clearly will be expectations that the allies must do more as well".
He said the response so far to requests for allies to supply extra troops ahead of elections had been "disappointing".
'Unfair' claims'Unfair' claims
Meanwhile, UK Defence Secretary John Hutton rejected claims that some US military commanders were unhappy with the performance of the British troops in Afghanistan.Meanwhile, UK Defence Secretary John Hutton rejected claims that some US military commanders were unhappy with the performance of the British troops in Afghanistan.
In an interview with the Financial Times newspaper, Mr Hutton said: "I do not think that is fair, nor do I think that reflects the real view in the Pentagon and elsewhere.In an interview with the Financial Times newspaper, Mr Hutton said: "I do not think that is fair, nor do I think that reflects the real view in the Pentagon and elsewhere.
"There is a very high level of regard for the contribution that UK forces have made in Iraq and Afghanistan."There is a very high level of regard for the contribution that UK forces have made in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We will not change our tactics in Afghanistan on the basis of uncorroborated and unsourced gossip from people who don't have the courage to put their names to their remarks," Mr Hutton said. "We will not change our tactics in Afghanistan on the basis of uncorroborated and unsourced gossip from people who don't have the courage to put their names to their remarks," Mr Hutton said.
* Allocation of new deployment between Operation Enduring Freedom and Nato ISAF to be confirmed.* Allocation of new deployment between Operation Enduring Freedom and Nato ISAF to be confirmed.
Return to the topReturn to the top