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US wants NATO role expanded all over Afghanistan

IRNA

Brussels, Dec 1, IRNA -- US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, told
NATO defense ministers Monday that the US envisaged the possibility of
an enlarged ISAF role all over Afghanistan, a NATO official said. 
"Rumsfeld envisages an enlarged ISAF (International Security 
Assistance Force) that could deal with a bigger chunk of Afghanistan`s
territory," said the official speaking on condition of anonymity. 
He said number of the PRTs (Provincial Reconstruction Team) in 
Afghanistan could be increased to 17 and possibly come under a unified
command at a later stage. 
PRTs are made up of small number of troops to assist in 
reconstruction and provide protection to aid workers. 
The official said NATO defense ministers` talks focused on 
operations in Afghanistan and how to plug the shortfall in ISAF. 
NATO took over the 5700-strong ISAF in August under a UN mandate. 
The official said that NATO chief Lord Robertson hopes that before
he leaves his post at the end of the year `those capabilities will be 
achieved`. 
"We are not there as yet," he said adding that several countries 
likes Spain, Belgium, Turkey, Germany, France have offered to 
contribute to plug the capability shortfalls in Afghanistan. 
NK/AH/210 
End