The Bush administration is planning to ask Congress for $10.6 billion for Afghanistan, a major increase aimed at rebuilding the country and strengthening government security forces still fighting the Taliban five years after the US-led invasion.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said all but $2 billion of the money is for security needs. She detailed the plan as she prepared to attend a NATO gathering meant to plan for an expected Taliban military offensive in the spring.
Among other issues Rice planned to raise today with her NATO colleagues were the divisions within the alliance on sharing the burden in Afghanistan. Some NATO countries have shown a greater willingness than others to send troops to areas of conflict.
The administration funding proposal follows a year in which Taliban forces launched surprisingly fierce attacks across the country, poppy production expanded and relations worsened between Afghanistan and Pakistan, a key ally in the fight against global terrorism.
"The challenges of the last several months have demonstrated that we want to and we should redouble our efforts," Rice told reporters flying with her to Brussels for the NATO sessions.
The US aid package would fund training and equipment for about 70,000 new Afghan army soldiers and 82,000 national police, among other uses, a State Department official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because President Bush will make a formal budget request next month.
There are about 24,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the highest number since the war began in October 2001. About half are under the control of NATO, which is gradually gaining more control over operations there.