War won't take years, says Rumsfeld

Donald Rumsfeld says the military operation in Afghanistan is becoming more effective every day and would not take years to complete.

The US Defence Secretary says the US is engaged in a "military exercise of self-defence".

He was speaking with India's Defence Minister George Fernandes who has been quoted as calling the US bombing raids in Afghanistan a "waste of explosives."

Mr Rumsfeld says that, as it is impossible to defend every possible target where terrorists may strike, "the only way to do it is to take the battle to them".

With more US military teams on the ground in Afghanistan to direct aircraft, "the effectiveness of bombing is improving every day".

Mr Rumsfeld said: "Do I think the operation in Afghanistan will take years? No I don't. We will take the least possible time."

Asked if he accepted the US military tactics in Afghanistan, Fernandes said: "It's the military men who decide military tactics. One should accept what's happening."

Both Mr Rumsfeld and Mr Fernandes discussed increased military cooperation, India's request for an end to restrictions on technology that can be used for nuclear power or nuclear weapons and the future of Afghanistan.

President Bush recently lifted sanctions on India and Pakistan, including bans on military contacts and economic punishments, which went into effect after both nations tested nuclear weapons in 1998.

Mr Rumsfeld said there would be a series of visits by military and defence department officials to India to discuss new cooperative steps which have yet to be outlined.