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Nato 'struggling in Afghan south' Nato 'struggling in Afghan south'
(about 4 hours later)
Coalition forces in Afghanistan are not winning in large parts of the south, the commander of Nato and US forces there has said.Coalition forces in Afghanistan are not winning in large parts of the south, the commander of Nato and US forces there has said.
Gen David McKiernan told the BBC that coalition strategy had so far been clear, but under-resourced.Gen David McKiernan told the BBC that coalition strategy had so far been clear, but under-resourced.
A decision to send more US troops to Helmand province later this year did not amount to a criticism of British troops based there, he said.A decision to send more US troops to Helmand province later this year did not amount to a criticism of British troops based there, he said.
The US has said it will deploy up to 17,000 extra troops to Afghanistan.The US has said it will deploy up to 17,000 extra troops to Afghanistan.
In an interview with the BBC's Today programme, Gen McKiernan said there were areas in the north, east and west where "coalition efforts in support of the government of Afghanistan [are] winning". President Obama acknowledged in a newspaper interview published on Sunday that the US was not winning the war in Afghanistan
'Force uplift'
In an interview with the BBC, Gen McKiernan said there were areas in the north, east and west where "coalition efforts in support of the government of Afghanistan [are] winning".
Our challenge in the southern part of Afghanistan is that we don't have enough of a persistent security presence in all the areas Gen David McKiernan Rebooting the Afghan mission
"But there are other areas - large areas in the southern part of Afghanistan especially, but in parts of the east - where we are not winning," he said."But there are other areas - large areas in the southern part of Afghanistan especially, but in parts of the east - where we are not winning," he said.
In these areas "more has to happen along multiple lines of operation in order for anybody by any metric to say that the Afghans are winning or the efforts of the coalition are winning," Gen McKiernan added.In these areas "more has to happen along multiple lines of operation in order for anybody by any metric to say that the Afghans are winning or the efforts of the coalition are winning," Gen McKiernan added.
'Force uplift'
US President Barack Obama authorised the deployment of up to 17,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan last month amid a major review of US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.US President Barack Obama authorised the deployment of up to 17,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan last month amid a major review of US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The US already has about 14,000 troops serving with the Nato-led mission.The US already has about 14,000 troops serving with the Nato-led mission.
There are also 19,000 US troops under sole US command charged with fighting Taleban and al-Qaeda insurgents.There are also 19,000 US troops under sole US command charged with fighting Taleban and al-Qaeda insurgents.
Gen McKiernan said he was "very satisfied" with the contribution of British troops in Helmand.Gen McKiernan said he was "very satisfied" with the contribution of British troops in Helmand.
"Our challenge in the southern part of Afghanistan is that we don't have enough of a persistent security presence in all the areas that allow the other lines of operation - better governance - to develop in that area," he said."Our challenge in the southern part of Afghanistan is that we don't have enough of a persistent security presence in all the areas that allow the other lines of operation - better governance - to develop in that area," he said.
"So these US forces, this force uplift, of which the majority will be positioned in the southern part of Afghanistan, I think will change security conditions there this year.""So these US forces, this force uplift, of which the majority will be positioned in the southern part of Afghanistan, I think will change security conditions there this year."
Bomb
Meanwhile, a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan has killed one Canadian soldier and wounded four others.
The Canadian military said the soldiers were on patrol in Kandahar province when their vehicle was hit by the blast on Sunday.
More than 110 Canadian troops have been killed since the start of their mission in Afghanistan in 2002 - the third highest casualty figures among international forces there, after the US and UK.