Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (R), currently on an official visit to Germany, was called and briefed by US National Security James Jones. —Photo by APP

FRANKFURT Pakistan had been informed by the US that it planned to increase troops in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said here on Tuesday.

'The decision will be formally announced by US President Barack Obama, but it has been conveyed to Pakistan prior to the announcement,' Mr Qureshi said at a press conference.

He said that US National Security Adviser James Jones had contacted Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Frankfurt and informed him about the US decision.

Mr Qureshi said that Pakistan had no objection to the increase in the number of US troops in Afghanistan, but wanted details about their deployment.

'We want to know how they will be deployed and in which areas,' the foreign minister said.

President Obama called President Asif Ali Zardari a few hours before the announcement of his new Afghan strategy.

According to presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, President Obama mentioned broad outlines of the new policy.

President Zardari was among the five world leaders contacted by the US president, the others being the leaders of France, Canada, Australia and Afghanistan.

President Obama reaffirmed US commitment to a long-term partnership with Pakistan for security and stability, the spokesman said.

The European Union is also reviewing its policy on Afghanistan and it will take a decision at an EU conference to be held in London in January.

'We will decide about deployment of our troops in Afghanistan in the conference,' said German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Gilani.