KABUL :The visiting NATO's Secretary General Jaap de Hope Scheffer HAS announced sending additional troops to Afghanistan ahead of the second presidential election after the fall of Taliban regime set for August 20 this year.
"We are bringing extra forces into Afghanistan for a protection role between 8,000 and 10,000, if you want to know the numbers of whom will come on temporary bases to Afghanistan," Scheffer said after meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai in his Palace.
The outgoing NATO chief described Afghanistan's coming election as "very important" for both Afghans and the international community, saying the ISAF along with Afghan security forces would do its best to help Afghans have a transparent election in a peaceful environment.
During his last tour to Afghanistan as NATO Secretary General, Scheffer once again repeated the military alliance commitment towards the post-Taliban Afghanistan.
"We would be alongside Afghan people and we will support Afghan people," he stressed.
The NATO top diplomat also expressed concern over civilian casualties during military operations against anti-government militants, saying "we will do everything which is in our power to prevent loss of innocent life, loss of innocent civilian life."
He asserted that the international forces would do its best to minimize civilian casualties.
Repeated harming of non-combatants has raised anti-U.S. forces resentment in Afghanistan while President Karzai and Afghan citizens at large have repeatedly asked the international forces to protect civilian life as it would not serve the U.S.-led war on terror.
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