Brown and Obama discuss Afghanistan troops

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Barack Obama discussed Afghanistan today, ahead of an expected announcement next week that Britain is ready to send more troops.

During a telephone conversation this afternoon, the two leaders held an “ongoing review” of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Downing Street said.

The pair agreed on the importance of “continued discussion” with Nato allies and agreed to remain in close consultation.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The two leaders discussed their ongoing review of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“They agreed to remain in close consultation going forward and on the importance of continued discussion with Nato allies.”

The spokesman added that the leaders also discussed the global economy and the importance of a “continued, strong international approach to tackling Iran’s nuclear ambitions”.

News of the conversation came as it emerged Mr Brown is set to make a statement to Parliament where he is expected to indicate that UK forces will be boosted by around 500.

Mr Brown chaired a meeting of a key Cabinet committee this morning, where there is understood to have been broad support for an uplift.

However, the move is contingent on enough equipment being available for the troops, burden-sharing commitments from Nato allies, and a new Afghan government being in place.

Currently Britain has around 9,000 personnel deployed in Afghanistan.

Tory leader David Cameron in his keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester today pledged that he would send more soldiers to Afghanistan if he won the General Election.