Gates: NATO Steps Up, Pakistan Makes Strides

KABUL–(ENEWSPF)–Dec. 8, 2009 – NATO’s commitment of 7,000 additional troops for the International Security Assistance Force it leads in Afghanistan comes as a pleasant surprise to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who calls it a sign of the alliance’s renewed commitment there.

“Frankly, my hope was that we could get 5,000, so a commitment for [7,000] was better than I expected,” Gates told reporters traveling with him on the way here today. “And from what…