The US and Germany were at odds last night after the permanent five members of the UN Security Council agreed the US should have overall command of all foreign troops in Afghanistan, including the multinational peacekeeping force.
The argument may lead to Berlin withdrawing its offer to send troops to the mission.
German officials said the country would have to "consider its position", although it was still possible that German troops would take part.
A formal disagreement with the US over the peacekeeping mission would be a serious blow for Chancellor Gerhard Schr÷der, who has attempted to boost Germany's international standing by offering "unlimited solidarity" to Washington since September 11th. It also suggests that maintaining the coalition against terrorism may become harder now that the first phase is drawing to a close.
A German official said Berlin had set certain conditions for the involvement of its troops in the force, the most important of which was the clear separation of the peacekeeping mission from the US-led Enduring Freedom military operation. US leadership of the peacekeeping force would mean this separation hardly existed, the official said.
But others argue that it makes sense for the US to have overall command. "No country in their right mind would not want US cover if things went wrong", said one diplomat.
"If we are going to be involved, we are going to be involved in a very serious and significant way," said a US official.
Britain yesterday sought to quell the dispute by insisting the UK would lead the force. However Mr Jack Straw, British Foreign Secretary, in a letter to Mr Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, made it clear the US would ultimately be in charge. The US central command will have authority "to ensure that international security assistance force activities do not interfere with the successful completion of Operation Enduring Freedom".
The Security Council's agreement was the last significant hurdle to be overcome before it votes on a resolution authorising the peacekeeping force.
The resolution is likely to authorise the force for six months with a review after three months, though a final decision has not yet been made. Britain is willing to be involved in peacekeeping in Kabul for only three months, after which it will hand over the reins, most likely to Turkey.
The cost of the peacekeeping operation will be borne by the governments supplying the troops, though poorer countries could obtain some financial assistance.