US Defence Secretary Gates in Afghanistan

Kabul, Jan 16: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates today arrivedin Afghanistan, where NATO forces have been battling a resurgentTaliban in the south of the country over the past year.

Gates, making his first visit to the country since taking officelast month, plans to meet Afghan government officials as well as US andNATO military commanders.

More than 4,000 people were killed in violence in Afghanistan lastyear. It was the bloodiest year since 2001 when US-led forces overthrewthe Taliban government, which they accused of harbouring September 11mastermind Osama bin Laden.

Fighting in Afghanistan often subsides in winter months only toresume when the snows melt. US officials say they have informationsuggesting the Taliban are planning a campaign to build on theirresurgence in 2006.

Earlier in the day, Gates discussed the increase in violence with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Brussels.

''The mission in Afghanistan, the first outside NATO's traditionalEuropean borders, is a model of the organisation's potential in thisnew era. Success in Afghanistan is our top priority,'' Gates told a newconference in Brussels.

Gates said there were ''some indications that the Taliban want toincrease the level of violence in 2007 and one of the subjects we'vebeen discussing is how we will respond to that and perhaps try to actto avoid it.'' He also highlighted the importance of reconstruction inAfghanistan and support for the government of President Hamid Karzai.

''There is clearly a need for both a military response inAfghanistan but also a civilian response. Clearly, the reconstruction,economic development, strengthening the Karzai government and itsability to render services to its citizenry are all very important.''''There has to be both a strong civilian and a strong militarycomponent to our support for that government,'' he said.

Gates will ask military commanders in his meetings on Tuesdaywhether they have adequate troops and other resources to counter anyoffensive, a US defence official said at the weekend.

The United States has about 20,000 troops in Afghanistan, Britain has some 5,000.

Reuters>