By NNN-KUNA
London : United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reiterated call here Wednesday for members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to deploy more troops to Afghanistan and “share the burden” of stabilizing the restive country.
The NATO members need to honour their long-term commitment towards the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan, she said in a joint press conference with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
She admitted that the NATO was facing a “real test” to defeat militants in the Central Asian country.
“NATO is facing a real test to defeat militants in Afghanistan here and it is a test of the alliance’s strength,” she underscored.
She also admitted that Washington faced a “bumpy ride” to convince the allies into sharing the burden there.
However, NATO is making progress towards denying Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants a new safe haven in neighbouring Pakistan.
“The militants are no longer able to launch large-scale operations against the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and the Afghan people.
“Proof of that was the change in tactics by the Taliban militia, who want to intimidate, brutalize and terrorize ordinary Afghans,” she said.
Earlier in the day, she held a series of talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Miliband on a wide range of international issues including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran.
The major part of their discussions was devoted to the NATO disagreement over the provision of troops in Afghanistan.
Miliband, for his part refuted claims that his country had insufficient forces in the Central Asian country.
Rice shared his view that the 7,700-strong British contingent was enough and were doing an excellent job there.
London and Washington are trying to evolve a stronger international action on Afghanistan
and the Iranian nuclear crisis.
The NATO disagreement over Afghanistan came at a time when participating countries have taken the heaviest casualties in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
France and Germany have been criticized for failure to send forces to parts of Afghanistan which have seen the most intense fighting.
The ISAF commanders have been calling for around 7,500 extra troops.
The NATO-led ISAF comprises some 42,000 troops from 39 countries.