NATO's Afghan mission at risk - Britain, U.S.

LONDON (Reuters) - The reluctance of NATO allies to send more troops and resources to Afghanistan is jeopardizing the military mission there, the United States and Britain said on Monday.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Afghanistan risked becoming a "failed state" unless more efforts were made to fight Islamic militants, and U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns appealed for more help from Europeans.

U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban government in 2001, but Taliban rebels launched an insurgency two years ago and violence has risen sharply since then.

Miliband, who visited Afghanistan last week with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said it was vital other NATO members increase their commitment.

"It would help precipitate even more dangerous insecurity in Afghanistan (if the international community pulled out)," Miliband told BBC radio. "If more effort is not made, Afghanistan risks becoming a 'failed state.'"

"We do need the whole of the international community, including European countries, to step up," he said.

Burns, speaking ahead of talks with British officials on Afghanistan and other areas of foreign policy, said it was unfair that a few NATO members -- mentioning the Americans, British, Dutch and Canadians -- were shouldering the burden.

"It is incumbent on us to say, with great respect, we need help from Germany and the other major west European countries," he told reporters, when asked about Germany's involvement.

"It's hard to think of a successful military operation when the majority of the capitals are saying we decide where and when the troops are deployed," he said.