More troops bound for Afghanistan: report

January 10, 2006 - 6:46AM

Australia is to increase its troop numbers in Afghanistan to more than 500.

Defence Minister Robert Hill would detail the deployment of the 310 new troops for Afghanistan today, newspaper reports said today.

The new deployment would boost troops there to more than 500, 50 more than are serving in southern Iraq.

Two Chinook helicopters from Townsville and 110 special forces soldiers will be deployed.

The helicopters and their support crews were expected to leave for Afghanistan next month, the reports said.

The Chinooks would also aid reconstruction efforts, including supporting Australia's 200-strong provincial reconstruction team, due to be sent to southern Afghanistan in April.

The 310 new troops would join 190 special forces troops already in Afghanistan.

They have been helping US and NATO forces tackle al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in the mountainous border regions.

An upsurge in violence in Afghanistan recently prompted NATO to boost its forces there from 10,000 to 16,000 in a move that would free up US troops for a more aggressive offensive against the Taliban in the border regions, the paper said.

AAP