Defense Secretary Gates requests more aid for Afghanistan.

The "international community" needs to do more to help Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the eighth Asia Security Summit on May 30. The weekend meeting with Asian defense ministers in Singapore concluded the following day with the 27 countries represented there calling for "peaceful and cooperative" solutions to security challenges in the region.

"I know some in Asia have concluded that Afghanistan does not represent a strategic threat for their countries, owing in part to Afghanistan's geographic location," Gates told the summit. "But the threat from failed or failing states is international in scope--whether in the security, economic or ideological realms." He also complained about the level of NATO countries' commitments.

Gates also said the United States would provide military aid and training to Pakistani forces in their battle against militants, but stopped short of pledging U.S. ground troops. "We are very sensitive to Pakistan's sovereignty and eager to be helpful, but only as the Pakistanis want us to be helpful," he told the summit, praising Pakistan's efforts so far.