By Andrew Gray and Reed Stevenson
VALKENBURG, Netherlands (Reuters) - The United States urged its NATO allies on Wednesday to remain engaged in the war in Afghanistan, even as Washington takes on a more dominant role by sending tens of thousands of extra troops.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates, visiting the Netherlands for talks with counterparts whose countries also have forces in southern Afghanistan, drew a parallel between the Afghan war and Allied efforts to defeat Nazi Germany in World War Two.
Speaking after visiting a U.S. war cemetery near the town of Maastricht, Gates echoed remarks by President Barack Obama last week in Normandy about the "clarity of purpose" of the allies in that conflict.
"Today we're engaged in another war, waged with a clarity of purpose similarly, one that once again requires great sacrifice by the United States, the Netherlands and all members of the coalition trying to help a proud people rebuild their nation after decades of war," he said.
"It is a mission whose importance cannot and should not be underestimated, for it is critical to the security of both Europe and the United States."
For years, Washington has urged its allies to contribute more troops, civilian reconstruction experts and aid to the fight against the Taliban and other insurgent groups.
Many have been reluctant, however, to make major new commitments, saying their forces are overstretched and citing public opposition to greater involvement in the war.
That has prompted the United States to take on the lion's share of a new push against a resurgent Taliban. It is adding more than 30,000 troops this year, with most deploying in the south, scene of the worst insurgent violence.
INTERNATIONAL COALITION
Gates said he would tell the other ministers with troops in southern Afghanistan that their support would remain vital.
"I will be emphasising ... the continuing high importance of our partners staying with us and keeping this truly an international coalition, battling the Taliban in Afghanistan," he told reporters.
Two of the other main troop contributors in southern Afghanistan, the Netherlands and Canada, are due to pull out in the next few years.
The Dutch are committed until the end of 2010 and their prime minister said in January it would be "extraordinarily problematic" to keep a force of the current size -- about 1,800 -- there for any longer than that.
Canada's military mission in southern Afghanistan is due to end in 2011.
The Dutch general who commands NATO forces in southern Afghanistan said the buildup of U.S. troops there should be completed before the Afghan presidential election on August 20.
"This will lead to a significant increase of the operational tempo we have and you'll also see a significant spike in the amount of incidents in the next couple of months because we will put a lot of pressure on the insurgents," Major General Mart de Kruif said at the ministers' meeting.
"We will go into areas where we've never been before," said de Kruif, speaking to reporters before briefing the defence ministers from the host country, Australia, Britain, Estonia, Denmark, Romania and the United States.
(Editing by Andrew Dobbie)
