U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has written to his counterparts in NATO allies, calling for more troops and equipment to be deployed in Afghanistan, Pentagon said on Friday.
"He sent letters to all of his NATO colleagues about the importance of fulfilling the military requirements," spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.
In the letters, according to Whitman, Gates informed his NATO counterparts of U.S. plans to send additional 3,200 marines to Afghanistan for a six-month term, and asked them to deploy more forces to replace the U.S. marines when they come out.
He refused to disclose more details about the letter, only saying they included "a number of recommendations on specifics to a number of different NATO colleagues, ways in which he thought they might be able to help."
Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also confirmed the letters, saying the move was a part of efforts to urge NATO allies to meet shortfalls in troops and equipment in Afghanistan.
President George W. Bush announced on Monday in his last State of the Union that the U.S. would deploy additional 3,200 troops to Afghanistan, including 2,200 to the violent south to counter Taliban militants.
Currently, the U.S. has 29,000 troops in Afghanistan, half of them are part of 40,000-strong NATO force.
Source: Xinhua
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