NATO Secretary General George Robertson said on Thursday he had asked Turkey to provide more military support for security and reconstruction missions in Afghanistan, where the military alliance is getting ready to expand its operations outside the capital of Kabul.
"I expect Turkey to contribute more to our special priority mission in Afghanistan," Robertson said during a conference he gave following talks with Turkish political and military leaders.
"We need more provincial reconstruction teams - small military teams that are working in the outline regions of Afghanistan. Turkey has got the expertise to be able to do one of these," said the outgoing NATO chief, during what is a farewell visit to Ankara.
"And of course, if we are going to go outside Kabul, then I need to be sure that if we do so we have the troops to do that.
"Turkey has also strength, for example, in military intelligence-gathering and in gendarmerie," Robertson said.
"I put on the table all these requests and in due course I'll get a reply." (Albawaba.com)
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