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KABUL - Australia will contribute a further A$110 million ($126 million) to rebuilding Afghanistan and is in the country for the long haul, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.
Mr Rudd made an unannounced visit to the strife-torn country, visiting Australian troops serving in the southern province of Oruzgan
before flying into Kabul for meetings with President Hamid Karzai and Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) commander, US General Dan McNeill.
Mr Rudd announced more funding for rebuilding the country - taking the total to about A$270 million - and urged Nato countries to pledge more troops for the battle against a resurgent Taleban.
"Australia is here in Afghanistan for a long haul," Mr Rudd said.
"There are important meetings coming up over the next several months and I would also be encouraging other friends and partners and allies in Nato to continue their commitment to this country and where possible to expand that commitment."
Mr Karzai thanked Australia for its reconstruction and security work in the province, one of Afghanistan's most volatile and a former stronghold of Taleban extremists.
He would not be drawn on what would happen if Nato countries did not send more troops, saying there had already been remarkable achievements in the fight against terrorism.
"But we are still fighting terrorism," Mr Karzai said.
"The objective is to enable us to do this better and to cut the time short.
"Any decision that eventually our allies together with the Afghan government make to make the fight against terrorism even more successful ... will be greatly appreciated."
Mr Rudd said bringing security to Oruzgan was a challenge that could be achieved.
"I'm confident our forces in partnership with our friends in the Afghan National Army, we'll achieve further success in future in securing that important province for long-term stability," he said.
The Australian troops in Oruzgan work alongside a deployment of 1,650 soldiers from the Netherlands in Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which numbers more than 40,000 troops in all.
Mr Karzai admitted there were problems in the northern part of Oruzgan, an area which is regarded as a safe haven for the Taleban.
But he said he was reluctant to take action because it would lead to too much bloodshed.
"We could at any time establish a government authority there," he said.
"The reason we have not gone in there with forces is because we do not want to have casualties. We really don't want to have casualties on any side.
"We don't really want the Taleban to get hurt or die. We want to attract them back to civilian life within the constitution."
In a spontaneous end to a good-natured press conference, Mr Karzai wished all Australians a merry Christmas.
"It's Christmas time and I would send my Christmas greetings to all those countries that are serving Afghanistan with their precious lives of their sons and daughters contributing to Afghanistan's stability and peace, and with their taxpayers' money," he said.
"We are very very grateful and Merry Christmas to all of you and especially to the Australian people."
- AAP
