Nato commander: Afghan troop shortfall puts lives at risk

Nato’s top commander today renewed an appeal for allies to fill gaps in the international military force in Afghanistan, warning that the failure to send reinforcements was weakening the mission and jeopardising the lives of soldiers fighting the Taliban insurgents.

“We do not have adequate forces,” Gen. John Craddock said in Belgium. “It makes accomplishing the mission that more difficult,” he added. “It places every Nato soldier there at greater risk.”