Australia looks to increase forces in Afghanistan

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia is considering plans to double its troop deployment to Afghanistan to about 1,000 to head off an expected spring resurgence of al Qaeda and Taliban fighters, Defense Minister Brendan Nelson said on Thursday. But Nelson ruled out any plans to follow Britain's lead and reduce Australia's military commitments in Iraq, saying any phased withdrawal of soldiers helping provide security in Iraq's south would put the lives of those who remain in danger.

Australia has about 1,400 military personnel in and around Iraq, including about 500 soldiers providing security in the country's south, and about 500 in Afghanistan working with Dutch NATO forces in the Uruzgan province.

"We are very concerned about the activities of al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan," Nelson told Australian television on Thursday. "What I have decided to do is to send a small scoping group over to Afghanistan to have a very close look at it."

Australia withdrew its special forces commandos from Afghanistan last September, but The Australian newspaper said Australia would send about 250 special forces troops back to Afghanistan, as well as extra helicopter support.

Nelson said while Australia had not yet made a formal decision to deploy extra troops to Afghanistan, he had discussed the issue with the Netherlands, British and U.S. governments and Australians should not be surprised if extra troops were sent.

Before they were withdrawn last September, Australia's special forces spent 12 months in Afghanistan, where they were involved in long-range missions to hunt down Taliban insurgents.

At the time, Australia's Defense Force Commander Angus Houston left open the option of sending the special forces back to Afghanistan but said they first needed a rest.