DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Friday that his country may need international security forces to stay longer to promote stability and security.

    "That will take a number of years, between five and 10 years perhaps," Karzai told a press conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

    The Afghan president admitted that Afghanistan's 33,000-strong forces was still lack of capability to defend the country and maintain internal security, adding that "numbers and equipment do not alone make institutions."

    At present NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) has 9,000 troops in Afghanistan and committed to send another 6,000 to the more turbulent south. In addition, the United States has a force of 19,000, which fights with insurgents.

    Karzai also welcomed the announcement that Britain would send another 3,300 troops to his country and called for the Dutch government and parliament to make a similar move.

    Representatives from about 70 countries are due to hold a conference in London next week, trying to produce a blueprint for international cooperation with Afghanistan for the next five years.Enditem