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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Afghanistan 'needs more Nato aid' | Afghanistan 'needs more Nato aid' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Nato must commit more troops and aid to Afghanistan if it is to establish a stable democracy, MPs have said. | Nato must commit more troops and aid to Afghanistan if it is to establish a stable democracy, MPs have said. |
| The Commons defence committee said it was "deeply concerned" that some member countries were reluctant to contribute. | The Commons defence committee said it was "deeply concerned" that some member countries were reluctant to contribute. |
| It said the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) was still two battalions short of the requirement set by Nato commanders. | It said the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) was still two battalions short of the requirement set by Nato commanders. |
| The government agreed that challenges in Afghanistan were "considerably greater" than some admitted. | The government agreed that challenges in Afghanistan were "considerably greater" than some admitted. |
| 'Exaggerated' | 'Exaggerated' |
| Nato's chief spokesman, James Apparthurai, said forces on the ground had nearly all the resources they needed. | Nato's chief spokesman, James Apparthurai, said forces on the ground had nearly all the resources they needed. |
| He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We're two battalions short and we'll keep asking for those. | He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We're two battalions short and we'll keep asking for those. |
| It is alarming that concerns are still being voiced over the lack of a unified strategy Nick Harvey, Lib Dems | It is alarming that concerns are still being voiced over the lack of a unified strategy Nick Harvey, Lib Dems |
| "But I think it's worth pointing out that Afghanistan is a huge country and the idea is not to just keep pouring more troops into it - that's been done in the past, that's not the way it will work." | "But I think it's worth pointing out that Afghanistan is a huge country and the idea is not to just keep pouring more troops into it - that's been done in the past, that's not the way it will work." |
| In its report, the committee said some Nato members were continuing to impose restrictions on where their troops could operate. | |
| While Isaf currently has almost 37,000 troops in Afghanistan, a far larger force - backed by increased development aid - was needed to stabilise the country, it added. | While Isaf currently has almost 37,000 troops in Afghanistan, a far larger force - backed by increased development aid - was needed to stabilise the country, it added. |
| The report said: "We remain deeply concerned that the reluctance of some Nato members to provide troops for the Isaf mission is undermining Nato's credibility and also Isaf operations." | The report said: "We remain deeply concerned that the reluctance of some Nato members to provide troops for the Isaf mission is undermining Nato's credibility and also Isaf operations." |
| James Arbuthnot, the committee's chairman, said Nato countries all had their own national reasons for not giving the same levels of commitment. | James Arbuthnot, the committee's chairman, said Nato countries all had their own national reasons for not giving the same levels of commitment. |
| He added: "The fear that we have as a result of this is that this deployment itself is at risk of failing, and if this deployment fails then Nato's existence is under threat." | He added: "The fear that we have as a result of this is that this deployment itself is at risk of failing, and if this deployment fails then Nato's existence is under threat." |
| The committee also warned that Nato appeared to be falling behind the Taleban in the "information campaign". | The committee also warned that Nato appeared to be falling behind the Taleban in the "information campaign". |
| It warned that "exaggerated" claims of enemy casualties risked handing a propaganda weapon to insurgents. | It warned that "exaggerated" claims of enemy casualties risked handing a propaganda weapon to insurgents. |
| Meanwhile, civilian casualties caused by Isaf were undermining support for the Nato mission and the Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai and fuelling the insurgency. | Meanwhile, civilian casualties caused by Isaf were undermining support for the Nato mission and the Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai and fuelling the insurgency. |
| The committee said that, while progress had been made in training units of the Afghan National Army working with Isaf, they were still "some way off operating independently". | The committee said that, while progress had been made in training units of the Afghan National Army working with Isaf, they were still "some way off operating independently". |
| 'Shortfalls' | 'Shortfalls' |
| The report said British forces - predominantly operating in the troubled Helmand province - still needed more helicopters and that the level of helicopter operations was "not sustainable at the present intensity". | |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne welcomed what he described as a balanced report. | Defence Secretary Des Browne welcomed what he described as a balanced report. |
| He added: "I agree with the committee's assessment that Nato nations should do more to meet the shortfalls in requirements." | He added: "I agree with the committee's assessment that Nato nations should do more to meet the shortfalls in requirements." |
| But shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said it was "a severe indictment of the government's handling of the situation in Afghanistan". | But shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said it was "a severe indictment of the government's handling of the situation in Afghanistan". |
| Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: ""This is an operation that Nato can ill-afford to lose and yet co-ordination between international actors remains poor." | Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: ""This is an operation that Nato can ill-afford to lose and yet co-ordination between international actors remains poor." |