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/8280763.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Afghan focus of US-Nato meeting Afghan war 'not just US battle'
(about 3 hours later)
US President Barack Obama is to hold talks with the head of Nato to discuss the way forward for the embattled Afghan mission. US President Barack Obama stressed that the Afghan war was not purely an "American battle", as he met Nato leader Anders Fogh Rasmussen for talks.
On Monday Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged the US not to doubt its allies' commitment, but said change was needed to ensure success in Afghanistan. Destroying al-Qaeda and building Afghan security were vital, he said, and the US would work with Nato "every step".
The talks come a day before Mr Obama meets advisers to discuss a new strategy for the war-torn nation. Mr Rasmussen - who had urged the US not to doubt its allies' commitment - said identifying the right strategy was key.
They follow a request from the top US general on the ground for more troops. The meeting comes amid intense debate within the Obama administration over the way forward in Afghanistan.
In a report submitted on Saturday, Gen Stanley McChrystal said that his mission in Afghanistan was likely to fail unless he was given more manpower. On Saturday the top US general in Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal, submitted a report requesting more troops and warning of failure should he be denied additional manpower.
But there are said to be divisions within the Obama administration over sending more troops, amid a drop in public support for the operation.
Rising troop deaths and the chaos over last month's election have contributed to the loss of confidence.
'Things must change'
On Monday, the Nato secretary general stopped short of endorsing Gen McChrystal's call for more manpower, saying that any decision on troops needed to be discussed within the alliance.
MARDELL'S AMERICA Some want to get back a strategy where the main aim is killing terrorists, not building a nation Mark Mardell BBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in fullMARDELL'S AMERICA Some want to get back a strategy where the main aim is killing terrorists, not building a nation Mark Mardell BBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full
But in his speech Mr Rasmussen echoed the general's request for more resources to train Afghan troops and strengthen civilian institutions so that they could take on greater responsibility. But there are said to be divisions in the White House over any further deployment, amid a drop in public support for the operation.
"We cannot simply continue doing exactly what we are doing now. Things are going to have to change," he said. Rising troop deaths and the chaos over last month's fraud-riddled election have contributed to the loss of confidence in the Afghan mission.
He hit out at what he said were US doubts over its allies' commitment to the operation. 'Strategy first'
"I will not accept from anyone the argument that Europeans and Canadians are not paying the price for success in Afghanistan. They are," he said. Speaking after talks at the White House, Mr Obama and Mr Rasmussen spoke of a joint effort in Afghanistan.
Mr Rasmussen will meet Mr Obama at the White House, a day before the US president meets his top security and defence advisers to discuss Afghanistan. "This is not an American battle," Mr Obama said. "This is a Nato mission as well and we are working actively and diligently to consult with Nato at every step of the way."
US uncertainty
The US administration is said to be torn between increasing its troop presence - as requested by Gen McChrystal - and adopting a new strategy of focusing on crushing al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
OBAMA'S AFGHAN POLICY Election campaign: Mr Obama says Afghanistan must be a priority and calls for more troops there, as well as political and economic progressFebruary 2009: Says he will send an extra 17,000 military personnel to Afghanistan this yearMarch: Announces an additional 4,000 US personnel will be deployed to help train Afghan police and armyMay: Backs Defence Secretary Robert Gates as he removes the US commander in Afghanistan, Gen David McKiernan and appoints Gen Stanley McChrystalAugust: Gen McChrystal warns Mr Obama in a report that the Afghan mission is likely to fail without more troops; urges a change in strategy to boost Afghan security forces and protect civiliansSept: Gen McChrystal formally asks for more troops; the Pentagon says the request is on hold while the Obama White House decides its overall Afghan strategyOBAMA'S AFGHAN POLICY Election campaign: Mr Obama says Afghanistan must be a priority and calls for more troops there, as well as political and economic progressFebruary 2009: Says he will send an extra 17,000 military personnel to Afghanistan this yearMarch: Announces an additional 4,000 US personnel will be deployed to help train Afghan police and armyMay: Backs Defence Secretary Robert Gates as he removes the US commander in Afghanistan, Gen David McKiernan and appoints Gen Stanley McChrystalAugust: Gen McChrystal warns Mr Obama in a report that the Afghan mission is likely to fail without more troops; urges a change in strategy to boost Afghan security forces and protect civiliansSept: Gen McChrystal formally asks for more troops; the Pentagon says the request is on hold while the Obama White House decides its overall Afghan strategy
Reports from Washington suggest that no decision on troops will be taken until there is agreement on the way forward. Mr Rasmussen, for his part, said that the alliance "will stand united and we will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to finish our job".
"This isn't going to be finished in one meeting. It's not going to be finished in several meetings," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. The Nato leader said he and other Nato members were studying Gen McChrystal's report - and he said he backed Mr Obama's approach of "strategy first, then resources".
"The first thing is not numbers," he said. "It is to find and fine-tune the right approach to implement the strategy already laid down."
The details of Gen McChrystal's report are not known, but analysts say he had been expected to submit a range of options from 10,000 additional troops up to 40,000.
The Obama administration is said to be torn between increasing troop numbers as requested or adopting a new strategy that prioritises crushing al-Qaeda over nation-building.
On Wednesday Mr Obama is to meet top security and defence advisers to discuss the way forward in the months ahead - the start of a series of discussions on the subject.
The White House says no decision will be made on troops until the strategy has been agreed.
There are currently around 100,000 foreign soldiers in Afghanistan from more than 40 countries. More than 60,000 of them are American.There are currently around 100,000 foreign soldiers in Afghanistan from more than 40 countries. More than 60,000 of them are American.
The details of what Gen McChrystal has requested are not known, but analysts say he had been expected to submit of a range of options from 10,000 additional troops up to 40,000.
The Obama administration is saying it is taking a deliberate approach to sorting out the right strategy, reports BBC defence correspondent Nick Childs.
But there is a sudden uncertainty in the administration's message, fuelled by a drop in public support for the conflict and new mutterings that the spectre of another Vietnam is looming, our correspondent adds.