“Definitely the number of troops matters”
Anders Fogh Rasmussen
**New Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that more foreign troops are needed in Afghanistan.**Mr Rasmussen told the BBC that progress had been made against the insurgents in southern Afghanistan thanks to a recent increase in troop numbers there.
But he added that Nato also had to help train the armed forces and provide people with “life opportunities”.
Separately, Britain says that three of its troops have been killed in an insurgent attack in the south.
“The patrol responded to the attack but three service members died in the engagement,” the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said in a statement.
More than 20 British soldiers were killed in Afghanistan in July - the deadliest month for British forces since the start of the conflict in 2001. The deaths have heightened debate in Britain about the deployment of British troops in Afghanistan.
Isaf troops earlier this year have launched major offensives in the south in an effort to secure militant strongholds ahead of 20 August presidential and provincial council elections.
‘No military solution’
Mr Rasmussen said the criteria of success for Nato was gradually to hand over responsibility for security to the Afghan people, enabling the police and army to take over “province by province as their capacity develops”.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME
“Honestly speaking I think we need more troops,” he said.
"I have seen progress in the south, not least thanks to the increase in the number of troops. So definitely the number of troops matters.
"However, we also have to realise that there is no military solution solely. We have to provide the Afghan people with better life opportunities as well if we are to win hearts and minds, and this will be at the core of our new strategy.
“In a few weeks’ time our commanders in the field will provide us with an updated assessment of the situation. Based on that we will take the necessary decisions to proceed.”
On Thursday Mr Rasmussen said that he was determined to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan to an absolute minimum.
The secretary general - on his first visit to Kabul since taking over from Jaap de Hoop Scheffer earlier this month - told Afghan President Hamid Karzai that Nato’s aim was to hand over security gradually to the Afghans.