KEY POINTS:
KABUL - Nato's fragile unity over Afghanistan has begun to crack ahead of a key summit, with one public call for discussions of an "exit strategy" from the alliance's increasingly bloody confrontation with the Taleban.
While Nato heads of government are due to make a show of unity over Afghanistan at tonight's alliance summit in Riga, Belgium's Defence Minister Andre Flahaut has questioned the future of Nato's most important mission. He suggested that "we finally reflect on an exit strategy. The situation is deteriorating and, over time, Nato forces risk appearing like an army of occupation."
The Supreme Allied Commander, General James Jones, said that the main objective of the meeting would be "getting a reaffirmation on the part of heads of state that Afghanistan is the alliance's number-one priority".
In September he called for around 2000 more troops plus helicopters and other equipment. The reinforcements offered have fallen short of the requests and the heads of government are unlikely to agree to send reinforcements.
- INDEPENDENT
