The United States will put pressure this week on its Nato allies to increase their commitments to Afghanistan but is not optimistic of fresh pledges of troops.
US president Barack Obama has today ordered in 17,000 more troops to battle a worsening insurgency. He announced the move ahead of a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Krakow, Poland, on tomorrow and Friday, saying the troops were needed to "stabilise a deteriorating situation".
But with international forces bogged down more than seven years after overthrowing the Taliban, Washington has struggled to persuade allies to commit more forces, and is not expecting substantial new pledges of combat troops from them in Krakow.
"We always go with the hope of being pleasantly surprised," Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said. "But I don't think we go there with the expectation of additional forces for Afghanistan at this meeting."
He said Washington's message was that "more Nato support is needed" and Obama wanted at least to see more help for the civilian effort, which includes programmes to push development and improved governance and the vital area of police training.
"We are obviously welcoming of that, if that is an easier pill to swallow," Mr Morrell said. "But we need more help to ensure that Afghanistan is a success."
US regional envoy Richard Holbrooke warned last week the threat posed by militancy in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan would be tougher to deal with than Iraq.
Mr Obama said Afghanistan had not been given "the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires".
The troop increase will bring US numbers in Afghanistan to around 55,000. Allies from 40 other mostly Nato countries have around 30,000 in total.
Nato diplomats say up to 10,000 troops could be required specifically as election reinforcements and the European contribution could be the equivalent of two battle groups, or up to 3,000 men.
Nato officials said it was possible non-U.S. election reinforcements for the existing 55,000-strong Nato-led military operation could be detached for the first time from the multinational Nato Response Force (NRF).
While the 26 Nato states have agreed to this in principle, countries on NRF standby, which include Spain, Italy, France and Britain, would still have to agree to commit additional numbers.
Allies will also discuss how to increase help for Pakistan, which alarmed Nato this week by cutting a deal with Islamist militants in a region bordering Afghanistan.
Reuters