NATO set to approve Afghan expansion plans
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-08 15:50

NATO foreign ministers were set to approve military plans Thursday to send up to 6,000 troops into southern Afghanistan, a major expansion of the alliance's peacekeeping mission into some of the most dangerous parts of the country.

The deployment next year of mostly European and Canadian troops will free up U.S. forces to focus on counterinsurgency operations against Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan's volatile south and east.

It should allow the United States to scale down its about 18,000-strong military presence almost five years since it invaded the country in the wake of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. The Pentagon, however, has yet to say how many troops it will withdraw.

Looming over the NATO talks is unabated European concern about allegations that the U.S. operated clandestine prisons in eastern Europe, mistreated prisoners and flew detained terrorist suspects around Europe in secret CIA flights.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice faced a grilling Wednesday from some European allies over the allegations at a closed dinner.

Some allies expressed satisfaction with her explanation. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Rice has assured them the U.S. administration does not interpret international humanitarian law differently from allied governments in Canada and Europe.

His Dutch counterpart Ben Bot _ one of the most strident in seeking U.S. explanations told reporters at NATO headquarters he was "very satisfied" with Rice's comments.

In Ukraine before heading to Brussels on Wednesday, Rice sought to clarify U.S. policy on harsh interrogation methods, saying no U.S. personnel may use cruel or degrading practices at home or abroad.

Rice has defended U.S. detention policy during her trip to Europe this week, but declined to directly answer questions on specific secret prison allegations.

The expansion of the Afghan mission will take NATO's peacekeeping mission to about 16,000 and make it responsible for security in about three-quarters of the country. The separate U.S.-led combat force will keep the lead role in the eastern sector where Taliban holdouts have been most active.

NATO's plan also sets out closer cooperation with the U.S.-led mission by appointing an officer who will serve jointly as the peacekeepers' deputy commander for security and chief of combat missions for the U.S. force.

The command arrangements are a response to concerns expressed by France, Germany and other European allies that NATO peacekeepers risk becoming embroiled in the U.S.-led hunt for Taliban and al-Qaida fighters.

NATO military officials, however, insist the force will have tough rules of engagement that will allow it to deal with any perceived threats.

NATO troops are scheduled to start moving into southern Afghanistan around May. Britain will play a lead role in the region, running a headquarters in Kandahar. NATO units led by troops from Canada, the Netherlands, Britain and the United States will fan out to four southern provinces. Germany will take over the lead of NATO forces in the north and Italy in the west.

The plans also set out rules for handling prisoners, overcoming concerns by some allies. Detainees must normally be released or handed to Afghan authorities within six hours, NATO says. In exceptional circumstances, and with authorization from headquarters, local NATO commanders can hold a prisoner for up to 96 hours.

"Every time an individual is detained by NATO, the International Red Cross or Red Crescent will be notified," he added.