NATO chiefs back Afghanistan reinforcements The Hindu 18.10.2009

NATO military chiefs called Saturday for reinforcements and more resources for Afghanistan’s national security forces, an alliance spokesman said.

NATO did not say how or from where the reinforcements should come, and no decision was made on sending extra NATO troops to the region, according to military committee spokesman Col. Massimo Panizzi. The issue will likely be discussed at Oct. 22-23 talks in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The United States is debating whether to add up to 40,000 U.S. troops, and President Barack Obama is expected to make a decision soon. Britain on Wednesday pledged an extra 500 soldiers.

Panizzi said the chiefs of defence from 42 nations involved in the war in Afghanistan also called for a new “people-centric” approach to the campaign that would focus on protecting Afghan civilians.

NATO contributes roughly two-thirds of the more than 100,000 international troops currently in Afghanistan.