The alliance is due next month to take over the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan sanctioned by the UN Security Council.

After a meeting with the Afghan foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah, Robertson told reporters that NATO would be in Afghanistan "until we succed. We're there until the job doesn't need to be done."

ISAF, which is currently under the command of Germany and the Netherlands, will be largely made up of Canadian troops when it comes under the command of

The force assists the country's interim government in training its security forces, and is responsible for security in Kabul and the immediately surrounding area.

Prime Minister Hamid Karzai has said many Afghans would like to see international peacekeepers operating throughout the country, but "expansion of ISAF was not being discussed today," Abdullah said.

Asked if he believed that Osama bin Laden was hiding beyond the reach of US security forces in Afghanistan, Abdullah replied that both bin Laden and Mohammed Omar, the former Taliban leader, were probably "in the neighborhood" but not in Afghanistan.

Robertson said that Afghanistan "may well be one of the toughest (missions) that we've taken on.

"It is not a brief commitment," he said. "This is a lasting commitment and we don't intend to fail."

WAR.WIRE