Afghan defense minister says more troops needed

TALLINN (Reuters) - Afghanistan needs more foreign troops as the threat from the Taliban is greater than anticipated, Afghanistan's defense minister said on Wednesday.

Abdul Rahim Wardak's comments came as Britain and the United States urged other NATO members to share more of the burden of the fight in Afghanistan, particularly in the south, where the Islamist Taliban insurgency is strongest.

"For the transitional period there is a requirement for more troops. That is why the U.S. committed about 2,200 marines recently," Wardak told a news conference after meeting Estonian Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo.

Wardak added: "The cause was that the threat is much higher than anticipated in 2001".

Echoing U.S. and British criticisms of NATO allies about deployment, Wardak said he saw a need for more harmonization in operations.

"As far as I am concerned , I am against national caveats, I am against different rules of engagement, and as an ex-commander myself, I should have freedom to move forces as I see the threat," he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said earlier on Wednesday that only a small number of NATO nations had troops in the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan and urged reluctant allies to share the combat burden.

Most of the fighting against the Taliban is shouldered by Canada, Britain, the United States and the Netherlands. They all want others to contribute more.

The Taliban, ousted from power by a U.S.-led invasion in 2001, fought back strongly last year.

(Reporting by David Mardiste; Editing by Charles Dick)