KABUL, Aug 20: The new commander of Kabul’s Nato-led international peacekeepers said on Wednesday the debate was still open on the expansion of his force into provinces where more than 90 people have been killed in the past week.

But Lieutenant-General Goetz Gliemeroth stressed that even if this did happen it would not mean his International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) would become involved in fighting opponents of the US-backed government.

“Since I took over command of ISAF, I have been asked...again and again about a possible expansion of ISAF mandate,” Gliemeroth told a news conference. “I am aware that the debate is open. It will be advantageous for this country.”

The German general said any expansion would be subject to high-level deliberations involving Karzai’s US-backed government, Nato, troop-contributing nations and the United Nations, which first approved the deployment of the peacekeepers in Kabul after the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.

Since then the now 5,000-strong ISAF has been helping security in Kabul and surrounding areas while 12,500 US-led coalition troops hunt remnants of Taliban and their al Qaeda allies in the provinces.

The government, the United Nations and aid agencies, have repeatedly urged the expansion of the ISAF force to the provinces to provide security for humanitarian and reconstruction work and elections supposed to be held next June.

But ISAF’s contributing nations have been reluctant to provide more troops for the provinces given greatly increased risks and costs.

Nato took command of ISAF on August 11, since when there has been a surge in violence across the country.

In the past week more than 90 people have died in a spate of incidents, most in attacks blamed on Taliban guerrillas, making for one of the bloodiest weeks since the fundamentalist group’s overthrow.

“ISAF has a different mandate,” Gliemeroth said when asked if he felt the need for an expansion in the face of the recent bloodshed to prevent a worsening of the situation.

“We will ensure a secure environment, but are not (here) to attack terrorists and similar elements throughout the country.”

Gliemeroth said it was the responsibility of the US-led coalition to deal with insurgent attacks.

He said the situation in Kabul, scene of a number of attacks in recent months, including one in June in which a suicide bomber killed four German peacekeepers and wounded 31, was under control, but threats to stability persisted.—Reuters