POIANA BRASOV,(Saba)- NATO could order the start of military planning for a possible takeover of operations in Afghanistan from US forces as early as next year,the US ambassador to the alliance said.

Some NATO envoys have said such a move would prove difficult for some member countries because it would potentially thrust NATO into a more frontline role in Afghanistan beyond its existing peacekeeping mandate.

Nicholas Burns said NATO defense ministers meeting here were likely to instruct the alliance military leadership to report back in February on how to bring NATO and US military operations under a single NATO command.

TD

SABA