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/uk_politics/6903403.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Afghanistan 'needs more Nato aid' Nato faces Afghanistan 'problems'
(about 1 hour later)
Nato must commit more troops and aid to Afghanistan if it is to establish a stable democracy, MPs have said. Defence Secretary Des Browne has said UK-led Nato forces are facing "problems" in Afghanistan but there was no question of troops being pulled out.
The Commons defence committee said it was "deeply concerned" that some member countries were reluctant to contribute. Mr Browne was responding to a report by a committee of MPs which called on Nato countries to commit more troops.
The report also highlighted equipment shortages and said there were signs the Taleban are growing stronger.
Mr Browne said the report had "positive elements" but Nato nations should do more to meet troop shortfalls.
The Commons defence committee said they were "deeply concerned" that some member countries were reluctant to contribute troops.
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.
Other problems identified in the wide-ranging report include a lack of training for Afghan police and an unclear policy on eradicating the country's opium poppy fields.
Britain, which leads NATO forces in the Helmand province in the southern Afghanistan, is one of the largest contributors to the Isaf mission, with 7,100 troops.
'Exaggerated''Exaggerated'
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.
This report has many positive elements in it Des Browne, defence secretary Send us your comments
"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.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. Isaf currently has almost 37,000 troops in Afghanistan, but a far larger force - backed by increased development aid - was needed to stabilise the country, it added.
This report has many positive elements in it Des Browne, defence secretary Send us your comments
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."
Taleban 'exaggeration'
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.
Taleban 'exaggeration'
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".
'Potential nightmare''Potential nightmare'
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". The report said British forces 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, adding in a statement that he agreed with its assessment "that Nato nations should do more to meet the shortfalls in requirements".Defence Secretary Des Browne welcomed what he described as a balanced report, adding in a statement that he agreed with its assessment "that Nato nations should do more to meet the shortfalls in requirements".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This report has many positive elements in it.He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This report has many positive elements in it.
"There are significant challenges; this is a complex environment. There are 37 countries with troops in this country and there are many billions of pounds of aid."There are significant challenges; this is a complex environment. There are 37 countries with troops in this country and there are many billions of pounds of aid.
"Quite specifically this report says that the ISAF mission is bringing tangible improvements to the people of Afghanistan""Quite specifically this report says that the ISAF mission is bringing tangible improvements to the people of Afghanistan"
He warned it would be a "potential nightmare" for the west if Afghanistan was allowed to fail and become a terrorist "training ground" as it was before.He warned it would be a "potential nightmare" for the west if Afghanistan was allowed to fail and become a terrorist "training ground" as it was before.
"People need to understand this is not a discretionary mission for the international community," added Mr Browne."People need to understand this is not a discretionary mission for the international community," added Mr Browne.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the report was "a severe indictment of the government's handling of the situation in Afghanistan".Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the report 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."