A14

Michael Tutton
THE CANADIAN PRESS

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CORNWALLIS, N.S. - Defence ministers from countries with troops in Afghanistan's restive southern flank say they're confident next fall's elections in the country can proceed despite a tide of violence that has continued to rise this year.

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Mike Dembeck/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canadian Minister of Defence Peter MacKay, left, and Eimert van Middlekoop, Netherlands Minister of Defence, speak briefly after a group photo during a meeting of the International Security Assistance Force on Thursday in Cornwallis, N.S.

Representatives from the International Security Assistance Force said Friday that a planned "surge" in troops from the United States, along with greater training of Afghan security forces, will help stabilize the southern provinces by spring and summer.

"One of the things we talked about this morning was the desirability of trying to surge as many forces as we can prior to the election to try and provide a secure environment for the elections in Afghanistan," said U.S. defence secretary Robert Gates.

His remarks came following two days of informal talks at a conference centre on the southwestern shore of Nova Scotia.

Nations whose forces have handled the bulk of the fighting in the war-torn southern provinces were represented, with defence ministers from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands and Estonia joining Gates for the wide-ranging talks.

There were also representatives from Denmark and Romania.

There are growing concerns the spreading violence could threaten elections expected this summer if they become a flashpoint for ethnic and tribal feuds.

The Globe and Mail quoted a report Thursday that suggests registration of voters, particularly in the southern Pashtun areas, will be reduced if Afghan police aren't able to curb threats of violence.

But Gates said elections in early September 2009 will proceed.

"We'd like to be able to get some of those additional brigade combat teams into Afghanistan before the election so they can make a contribution to greater security," he said.

Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay had predicted the issue of how fresh U.S. marines and soldiers would be deployed would be the "800-pound" gorilla in the room during the meeting.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has repeatedly committed to send three or four additional brigades, creating a total of 20,000 more troops, into Afghanistan in 2009, as his new administration shifts focus away from what he's called the misbegotten Iraq war.

Gates said he could only provide his colleagues with details of troops committed by the Bush administration, including the 1,800 marines who are expected in the country this month and a further brigade of soldiers in January.

"We will deploy an additional brigade in January," he said. "That team will be involved principally in training the Afghan forces."

He said it will be up to the next administration to provide allies such as Canada and the Netherlands - who are planning pullouts from Afghanistan in the next three years - with information about future brigades.

MacKay said the increasing U.S. deployments made him "very happy," but it doesn't mean Canada will pull out troops.

"It doesn't mean we should let up," he said. "This is about reinforcement, not replacement. This is about continuing in a joint U.N.-backed, NATO effort."