NEW YORK, July 7: US lawmakers on Sunday called for more active role for American troops in providing security to Afghanistan in the backdrop of the assassination of Afghan vice-president Abdul Qadir on Saturday.

“I fear that we may see this government and our efforts unwind here (Afghanistan) if we don’t make the appropriate investment of men and effort and resources,” said Senator Chuck Hagel, who serves on the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“This was definitely a throwback to the old Afghanistan and a setback to the establishment of the new Afghanistan,” said Senator Bob Graham, Chairman of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“If we lose there, if this goes backward, this will be a huge defeat for us symbolically in that region, in the world, for our word, confidence in Americans all over the world. We cannot allow this to go down,” Hagel said on NBC.

“If all you do is secure the capital and allow instability to fester around the country, I think we’re running a real risk that the gains we made during the war could be lost by an insufficient peace,” added Senator Evan Bah.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that the slaying “illustrates the degree of challenge we still have in Afghanistan. We have a long way to go to accomplish our goals.”

While wanting to hear from President Bush on this issue, Bayh said on “Fox News Sunday” that “my own view is, we went to war, we won the war, let’s not lose it now. And I think we need to take stronger security steps.”

The assassination, Hagel said, “shows how fragile this situation is, and how a long-term, sustained, strong leadership position America is going to have to have if we are to win. When I say “win,” I mean just stabilize that area.”

Hagel said he thought the United States “should take another look at ... more involvement” in the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan.

Senator Graham said Qadir’s killing “may indicate that we are going to have to be more of a participant in some of the security activities that are necessary in order to create a climate in which the new government can be established.”

Graham said the US military “has performed well” in Afghanistan and in other recent international missions. “Where we haven’t had equal success is following up with those forces that could provide essential law and order and begin the process of restoring the basic institutions upon which any society depends,” he said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has asked for the force to be expanded beyond Kabul, but the United States and other countries contributing troops favour limiting its role until they can hand over responsibilities to an Afghan army.

US President Bush, vacationing over the weekend in Maine, said Saturday that Qadir’s death strengthened US determination to help Afghanistan recover from war.

“We are more resolved than ever to bring stability to the country so that the Afghan people can have peace and hope,” Bush said.