NATO chief supports more Afghan troops

BERLIN, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- NATO allies need to "follow suit" once the United States announces its troop surge in Afghanistan, the alliance's secretary-general said.

Speaking to CNN in Berlin, Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he is confident the allies will provide more troops after U.S. President Barack Obama announces his Afghan strategy and his decision to deploy additional troops next week.

"I think it's of utmost importance for the alliance and certainly for our operation in Afghanistan that the allies follow suit once the Americans have made their decision," Rasmussen told CNN.

Other reports have said U.S. officials are urging NATO to commit 10,000 more troops in support of the U.S. strategy which may include an additional 30,000 U.S. soldiers.

Rasmussen told CNN it was "too early to speak about concrete troop numbers" but he was "sure that an additional number of troops" would help improve security in Afghanistan. Rasmussen stressed the importance of training Afghan security forces and implementing a counterinsurgency approach.

"If we left Afghanistan behind it could spread from Afghanistan and through central Asia and risks destabilizing neighboring Pakistan a nuclear power. So I think that there is a broad consensus that we stay committed until the job is finished and obviously that is not forever," he said.