No Extra NATO Troops Committed To Afghanistan

British Prime Minister Tony Blair (left) with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao (epa) September 13, 2006 -- No formal offer to reinforce NATO's mission in southern Afghanistan was made at a meeting today of top officials from the alliance.

The alliance has recently taken over operational command in the area from U.S.-led coalition forces.


British Prime Minister Tony Blair today said that Britain's NATO allies have a "duty" to send more troops to Afghanistan.


Blair said British and other international troops are inflicting "real damage" on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, but it is important that all members of NATO regard it as their responsibility to strengthen the alliance's military presence in the country.


Blair was speaking in London at a press conference with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Wen said Beijing backs NATO efforts to bring stability to Afghanistan.


(AFP, Reuters)

The Afghan Insurgency

The Afghan Insurgency

A U.S. military vehicle damaged by insurgents near Kandahar (epa)

HOMEGROWN OR IMPORTED? As attacks against Afghan and international forces continue relentlessly, RFE/RL hosted a briefing to discuss the nature of the Afghan insurgency. The discussion featured Marvin Weinbaum, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and RFE/RL Afghanistan analyst Amin Tarzi.


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