STRASBOURG, France -- Britain will consider sending extra troops to Afghanistan to help with security during the presidential election in August, a British government official said Friday. The temporary increase in the number of British troops could be in the 'mid to high hundreds,' a government source said.Britain has more than 8,000 troops in Afghanistan, the second largest foreign contingent after the United States.
The official indicated that Britain had taken no decision on a permanent increase in its troops there despite pleas from US President Barack Obama for Europe to step up its contribution to the war on Taleban insurgents.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will tell other NATO leaders at a summit opening in Strasbourg later Friday that his offer of extra troops depends on other NATO countries doing their bit, the official traveling with Brown said. 'The prime minister will be making clear in the discussions that we would be prepared to offer a temporary increase in our troop numbers for Afghanistan to cover the election period,' said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'This would be subject to appropriate burden-sharing and appropriate contributions from other NATO member states.'
The official said there was a significant risk that Taleban insurgents would try to disrupt the presidential election, which is scheduled for August 20. 'A democratic Afghanistan and smooth running of the elections is clearly in our interests,' he said. 'A democratic Afghanistan helps stop terrorism on the streets of Britain.'