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Taliban defiant over Obama surge Taliban defiant over Obama surge
(9 minutes later)
The Taliban say they will step up their fight in Afghanistan, after pledges by the US and its allies to send large reinforcements to the country.The Taliban say they will step up their fight in Afghanistan, after pledges by the US and its allies to send large reinforcements to the country.
A Taliban spokesman said such moves would "provoke stronger resistance".A Taliban spokesman said such moves would "provoke stronger resistance".
US President Barack Obama, announcing a long-awaited strategy on Tuesday, said another 30,000 American troops would be deployed quickly in Afghanistan.US President Barack Obama, announcing a long-awaited strategy on Tuesday, said another 30,000 American troops would be deployed quickly in Afghanistan.
Defence secretary Robert Gates told the US Congress that curbing the Taliban was essential for regional security.Defence secretary Robert Gates told the US Congress that curbing the Taliban was essential for regional security.
He said the Taliban were working closely with al-Qaeda and warned that allowing them to regain footholds in Afghanistan and Pakistan would encourage other extremists in the region. Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mr Gates stressed that the US goal in Afghanistan and Pakistan was to defeat the al-Qaeda network - and to do that, the Taliban must be pushed back.
The US would ask its Nato allies for 5,000 to 7,000 additional troops, he told the Seante Armed Services committee on Wednesday. "The success of the Taliban would vastly strengthen al-Qaeda's message to the Muslim world: that violent extremists are on the winning side of history," he said.
On Tuesday, Nato's secretary general said non-US members would contribute at least 5,000 extra troops next year. The US would ask its Nato allies for 5,000 to 7,000 additional troops, he told the committee on Wednesday.
Nato's secretary general has said non-US members will contribute at least 5,000 extra troops next year.
'Devastating terrorism''Devastating terrorism'
The Taliban expressed defiance in the face of Mr Obama's commitment to send more troops.The Taliban expressed defiance in the face of Mr Obama's commitment to send more troops.
"Obama will witness lots of coffins heading to America from Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahamdi told AFP news agency."Obama will witness lots of coffins heading to America from Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahamdi told AFP news agency.
We must reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government Barack Obama Full text of speech Nato pledges 5,000 Afghan troops US media on the troop surge Afghan concern over pullout dateWe must reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government Barack Obama Full text of speech Nato pledges 5,000 Afghan troops US media on the troop surge Afghan concern over pullout date
"Their hope to control Afghanistan by military means will not become reality.""Their hope to control Afghanistan by military means will not become reality."
Mr Obama reached his deployment decision after more than three months of deliberations and 10 top-level meetings with advisers.Mr Obama reached his deployment decision after more than three months of deliberations and 10 top-level meetings with advisers.
In his speech at the West Point military academy in New York, he said the al-Qaeda militants and their Taliban allies had "begun to take control over swathes of Afghanistan" while committing "devastating acts of terrorism" against Pakistan.In his speech at the West Point military academy in New York, he said the al-Qaeda militants and their Taliban allies had "begun to take control over swathes of Afghanistan" while committing "devastating acts of terrorism" against Pakistan.
US forces, he said, lacked "the full support they need to effectively train and partner with Afghan security forces and better secure the population".US forces, he said, lacked "the full support they need to effectively train and partner with Afghan security forces and better secure the population".
"I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan," he told cadets."I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan," he told cadets.
"After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home.""After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home."
'Common fight''Common fight'
Rising violence - more than 900 US soldiers have died in Afghanistan - and August's discredited elections in the country have fanned domestic opposition to the eight-year-old war.Rising violence - more than 900 US soldiers have died in Afghanistan - and August's discredited elections in the country have fanned domestic opposition to the eight-year-old war.
MARDELL'S AMERICA There was plenty designed to reassure those who were worried about what is, after all, a massive escalation Read Mark Mardell's thoughts in fullMARDELL'S AMERICA There was plenty designed to reassure those who were worried about what is, after all, a massive escalation Read Mark Mardell's thoughts in full
The mission in Afghanistan, Mr Obama said, was to defeat al-Qaeda, reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny them the ability to overthrow the government.The mission in Afghanistan, Mr Obama said, was to defeat al-Qaeda, reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny them the ability to overthrow the government.
Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Afghanistan, who had asked for 40,000 extra troops, welcomed the speech, saying he had been given "a clear military mission" and the necessary resources.Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Afghanistan, who had asked for 40,000 extra troops, welcomed the speech, saying he had been given "a clear military mission" and the necessary resources.
The reinforcements will take the total number of US troops in Afghanistan to more than 100,000.The reinforcements will take the total number of US troops in Afghanistan to more than 100,000.
Some 32,000 other foreign troops are serving there. Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged members to do more.Some 32,000 other foreign troops are serving there. Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged members to do more.
He told reporters on Wednesday that 5,000 extra troops would be sent in 2010, and "probably" a few thousand in addition.He told reporters on Wednesday that 5,000 extra troops would be sent in 2010, and "probably" a few thousand in addition.
"This is our fight together," he said. "We must finish it together.""This is our fight together," he said. "We must finish it together."
The Afghan government said it supported the new US strategy.The Afghan government said it supported the new US strategy.
Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta said that with international help, Afghanistan's armed forces would be able to start taking responsibility for security in 18 months.Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta said that with international help, Afghanistan's armed forces would be able to start taking responsibility for security in 18 months.
However the BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul says there is concern that putting a date on a US withdrawal sends the wrong signal and risks giving encouragement to the Taliban.However the BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul says there is concern that putting a date on a US withdrawal sends the wrong signal and risks giving encouragement to the Taliban.