NATO has almost met its target for extra combat troops in Afghanistan but will press allies this week to meet a shortfall of up to 2,400 people to train Afghan security forces, Reuters cited its secretary-general as saying today. Anders Fogh Rasmussen said almost 70 countries had promised to increase or at least maintain their support in Afghanistan following an international conference in London last week. He said almost 40 of the 44 states contributing to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) had offered to send more troops and NATO was now close to the 40,000 additional soldiers it says it needs for the mission. However, Rasmussen said the alliance was still short of 21 teams to train the Afghan army and more than 100 teams to train the police. If Afghanistan's security forces are to grow to a target of 300,000 personnel in 2011, even more training teams will be needed, he said. NATO officials say the current shortage amounts to 2,000-2,400 foreign trainers, who are needed to help build Afghan forces so they can take over responsibility for security.
