US vows to maintain strong presence in Afghan, allies reject combat role

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BERLIN - US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said the United States would maintain a forceful military presence in Afghanistan despite pressure to free up forces stretched by the insurgency in Iraq. European allies rejected his suggestion that NATO take on counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan.

“US forces will of course continue to play a strong role,” Rumsfeld said after a meeting of NATO defense ministers on Wednesday.

Rumsfeld said he was satisfied with plans by NATO allies to expand its 11,000-strong Afghan peacekeeping mission next year with more European and Canadian troops, a move that could free up thousands of US soldiers.

But Germany and France made clear that they would not allow the NATO force to become embroiled in offensive combat, leaving the separate, US-dominated coalition force of 19,000 to pursue the counterinsurgency against Taleban and Al Qaeda holdouts.