'No plan' to increase Afghan troops

Nato sources later backtracked on spokesman James Appathurai's remark, stressing that he was not expecting any offer of additional UK troops and was simply seeking to reflect the solid nature of Britain's commitment to the International Security Assistance Force.

Mr Appathurai was speaking ahead of a Nato summit in the Netherlands on October 24-25, at which Mr de Hoop Scheffer will call on member states for additional military contributions to its mission in Afghanistan.

He said the mission was currently only at 90%-95% of its intended strength and needed more helicopters, transport aircraft and training units.

Mr Appathurai insisted that Nato does not expect current debates in Canada or the Netherlands to lead to them downgrading their presence in the south of Afghanistan, where they have joined the UK and US in taking on the task of bringing security to the most lawless parts of the country.

He told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend: "In the south, we don't think the Dutch are going to leave. The Canadians are looking at exactly what they can do. The British are talking in the south not only about keeping what they have, but potentially increasing it."

Nato sources later indicated that Mr Appathurai was not referring to any behind-the-scenes talks about the deployment of more UK troops, but was drawing on his general understanding of Britain's stance.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are keeping our force levels under review but we are not about to make any future announcement on troop levels."

Any suggestion that Britain should increase its commitment in Helmand province, where troops have been engaged in fierce fighting with Taliban militias, would be controversial. Politicians of all parties have long said that the UK is bearing too much of the burden in Afghanistan and urged Nato allies to do more.

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "Our armed forces are already suffering because of too many commitments. If we take on a bigger deployment in Afghanistan then all the current problems of overstretch will only worsen. All the potential benefits of a withdrawal from Iraq will be undone if we take on a bigger role in Afghanistan."