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NATO begs for additional troops to train Afghans

NATO says it needs more contributions from member states to train Afghan soldiers in their fight against the Taliban militants.

Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, speaking at a monthly press conference on Sunday, said the 40,000 extra troops that are to be deployed in Afghanistan through August will include training teams. But, he emphasized, “it isn’t yet sufficient.”

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force could require additional troops for the purpose of training Afghan soldiers and police forces over the next five years, he said, adding that he will press on this issue at the upcoming Istanbul meeting.

Rasmussen reiterated that if the Afghan security forces are to grow to 300,000 personnel by 2011, as reported, then even more training teams will be needed. Currently, according to the NATO chief, the alliance is short of 21 teams for training of the Afghan army and more than 100 teams for training the police.

The year 2010 will prove to be a real challenge for the NATO forces in the country, he said; though, he claimed, the military alliance enjoys the unity, the strategy, and the resources essential in combating the Taliban.

NATO defense ministers are due to meet in Istanbul on Thursday and Friday.

More than 110,000 foreign troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan.

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