Wednesday, September 27 2006 10:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Brussel: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has categorically denied that the 26-member alliance has requested India to send troops to Afghanistan to assist its mission there.

"There has been no request to the Indian government for a contingent of Indian military to go to Afghanistan nor do we understand the Indian government is considering one,'' John Colston, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, told reporters here Tuesday.

He said that despite some speculation, the matter will not be discussed by NATO defence ministers who are holding an informal meeting in Portoroz, Slovenia, on Thursday and Friday.

Asked why NATO which is calling for international engagement in Afghanistan has not requested India to contribute troops, INEP agency quoted Colson as saying: "NATO in its contacts with potential contributors does try to take into account regional sensitivities, genuine regional sensitivities.

"We would not ask a government to do something which we could see create potential difficulties in the terms of the poliitics of the region," he said and added that Afghanistan was not a problem for NATO alone.

Nations individually and other international organizations have to engage to help the government of President Karzai, he said.

NATO defence ministers will deliberate on the extent to which the whole of the international community needs to be engaged in Afghanistan, Colston said.

NATO has about 20,000 troops from 37 countries under its UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

The alliance now wants 2,000 extra soldiers after facing unexpected fierce resistance by Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters in southern Afghanistan where it began its operation in July.