Afghan war trends signal "mounting crisis"-US senator

WASHINGTON, June 15 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's war effort in Afghanistan appears to be heading in the wrong direction and possibly toward a crisis, a top Republican who backed Obama's troop buildup said on Tuesday.

Senator John McCain, who ran against Obama in the 2008 presidential election, voiced concern about slower-than-expected progress in southern Afghanistan and doubts about Afghan President Hamid Karzai's commitment.

"I am deeply concerned about our campaign in Afghanistan. Many of the key trends seem to be heading in a bad direction, perhaps even signaling a mounting crisis," McCain said at a Senate hearing, where top Pentagon officials defended the Afghan strategy.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Adam Entous, editing by Jackie Frank)