LONDON, Nov 1: Nato has insufficient troops in Afghanistan to secure a victory over Taliban fighters in the coming months, the alliance’s top commander said in an interview published on Wednesday.

“I haven’t got enough (to) win this, say, in the next six months, but I can continue to make sufficient improvements to keep the people here confident in us and in their government,” British army Gen David Richards told the Financial Times.

A Taliban-led insurgency has intensified this year, surprising Nato generals who took over command of foreign forces in Afghanistan from the United States, with more 3,100 people killed in the past 10 months.

But Richards said it was possible to persuade the Afghan people his 31,000-strong Nato force from 37 nations was making progress.

“I can persuade them of that without huge amounts of additional troops,” he said, noting that the Afghan army and police would help.

Two new Canadian companies had already arrived in the country and 1,000 Polish troops would be on board in the new year, he said.

Nato countries have yet to plug troop shortfalls identified by commanders and lawmakers from Nato nations called last month for more troops to be sent to Afghanistan.

The general also spoke about a Nato operation launched this week to accelerate reconstruction and development and win back public confidence, dented by the lack of progress.—Reuters