There is a consensus among NATO members that Canada needs help in southern Afghanistan and efforts are underway to make that happen, says a spokesperson for the organization.
NATO talks are currently underway at the organization's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Canadian Defence Minister Maxime Bernier is among the 26 ministers taking part.
Speaking to CTV's Canada AM on Friday, NATO spokesperson James Appathurai said he has hope that members will come up with the 1,000 troops needed in the south if Canada is to continue its military role.
"Everyone's aware of the discussions in Canada and Minister Bernier made his case very clear yesterday for all the allies," Appathurai said.
"There is a strong sentiment around the NATO table, I can tell you, to find a way to help Canada meet its requirements to be able to extend the mission, to reinforce what Canada is doing."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said Canada is shouldering too much of the combat load, and NATO nations must provide 1,000 extra troops in southern Afghanistan or Canada will end its combat role in February 2009.
On Thursday, France signalled it may provide the necessary troops.
The country is sending additional troops to Afghanistan in the near future but has not declared to which region it would be sending them.
"The choice has not been made between the east and Kandahar," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told reporters.
"We are aware both of the needs of Kandahar in the south and of the east. The final decision will lie with President Nicolas Sarkozy and the army."
Bernier said NATO has moved beyond discussing Canada's demand, to discussing logistics. He said that Canada should have a decision in the "near future."
Appathurai said Sarkozy has signalled he will make a final decision on the troop deployment at the next NATO summit in early April in Bucharest, Romania.
The French troops, even if they are not posted to Kandahar, may free up other troops in Afghanistan that could then be redeployed to the south, providing the necessary numbers for Canada.
