EDINBURGH, Scotland, December 14, SPA -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday pushed European allies for more troops to re-energize efforts in southern Afghanistan, where the Taliban insurgency has increased its attacks in the 18 months since NATO took command of the war. Opening two days of talks with allied defense and diplomatic officials, Gates hoped to stir discussion of forming an overarching strategy for Afghanistan that could be adopted by NATO government leaders at a summit next April, the Associated Press reported. It was not clear that all NATO members agree such a plan is even needed, and no firm decisions on a way forward were expected in Edinburgh. British Defense Secretary Des Browne, in a statement released Thursday, said military power can only be part of the solution in Afghanistan. "We must build on our hard won military gains and go further to help the people of Afghanistan to provide their own security, governance and economic development," said Browne. And while he did not provide specifics on the type of aid needed, he said, "We must give the Afghan authorities the support they need to deliver the kind of success that we all recognize is vital, not just for security in Afghanistan, but for security in the wider world."--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/509192