Afghans only want 1,000 troops

Afghanistan today threw a spanner into plans for a multinational peacekeeping force with an announcement that it will be no more than 1,000 strong and must be out of the country in six months.

The firm statement from Afghanistan's designated defence minister Mohammad Fahim threatened to undermine Britain's plans for a much more ambitious and farreaching effort. And it underlined the continuing tensions between Afghanistan's interim government and the Western powers which made it possible.

Mr Fahim, speaking to reporters after a visit to a Russian field hospital, said that the British- led force would be limited to one base and would remain for six months from the day the new government takes power on Saturday.

"I don't think there will be more than 1,000 people," he said. "If there are more, then the rest will participate only in providing technical support and to assist in humanitarian aid deliveries."

The message threatened to upstage a statement from Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to the Commons this afternoon. Tony Blair has already told MPs that the British contingent alone will number between 1,000 and 1,500. He also said that the force would be swelled by an array of troops from other countries.

Although Mr Hoon is expected to confirm that the British contingent would stay for no more than four months, Downing Street today made clear that this was seen merely as the first phase in a rotating leadership, with no time limit on the overall operation. Mr Fahim's spokesman said that the first troops would arrive in Kabul on Friday.