KavkazCenter - Afghan force 'needs more troops'

Afghan force 'needs more troops'

Nato's top commander, General James Jones, has urged member countries to provide reinforcements to the mission in southern Afghanistan. He admitted the military alliance had been taken aback by the extent of violence in the region.

But he predicted that the coming weeks would be decisive in the fight against Islamist Taleban guerrillas.

Commanders on the ground had asked for several hundred additional troops and more helicopters and airlift, he said.

"We are talking about modest reinforcements," he told reporters at Nato European headquarters in Belgium.

We should recognize we are a little bit surprised at the level of intensity, and that the opposition in some areas are not relying on traditional hit-and-run tactics

Agencies