(AFP) - US President George W. Bush arrived in the Latvian capital Riga on Tuesday for a NATO summit to be dominated by the conflict in Afghanistan, reports Trend.
Speaking earlier on Tuesday in Estonia, Bush urged NATO allies to do more to tackle the Taleban insurgency in Afghanistan, saying member nations must accept difficult assignments if we expect to be successful.'
British, Canadian and Dutch troops have borne the brunt of fighting in the south and east of Afghanistan, leading to calls on countries like Germany and Spain, posted in relatively peaceful regions, to become more involved, reports Trend.
NATO commanders are also frustrated by around 50 caveats, which range from geographical restrictions -- the biggest problem -- to refusal to fight at night or in winter conditions for lack of proper equipment.
If the insurgeny thrives, reconstruction will slow, and NATO fears ordinary Afghans will turn back to the Taleban militia, who were ousted from power by a US-led coalition in 2001 but have dramatically stepped up operations recently.
To succeed in Afghanistan, NATO allies must provide the forces NATO military commanders require,' Bush said in Tallinn on a stop-over.
The US president was due to leave Riga for Jordan on Wednesday for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki.