PORTOROZ, Slovenia, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- NATO defense ministers have confirmed the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan to the east of the country by putting some 12,000 U.S. soldiers under ISAF control, a NATO spokesman said on Thursday. 

    Spokesman James Appathurai told the press about NATO's new plan in Portoroz, a Slovenian seaside resort, where NATO is having an informal meeting of its defense ministers.

    Appathurai said that it would be the fourth phase of deployment of the ISAF security force.

    The ISAF force, which NATO took over in August 2003, consists of some 20,000 soldiers from 37 countries. The U.S.-led coalition has an additional 21,000 troops there for Operation Enduring Freedom, 12,000 of which will be transferred to ISAF under the agreement made on Thursday.

    ISAF troops were initially stationed in the Afghan capital Kabul and the north. In August this year the mission was extended to the volatile south, where troops encountered fierce resistance from Taliban fighters.

    "NATO has shown in the south of Afghanistan that it can fight and win," Appathurai said.

    Military presence alone would not bring stability to the country, said he, adding that what is needed is cooperation with the government in Kabul and the rest of the international community, including the United Nations.

    Addressing the opening ceremony the informal meeting, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said many NATO soldiers had paid the ultimate sacrifice, but he stressed that "opposing forces must be dealt with."

    "Afghanistan should never again become a launching pad for international terrorists. We must, and I'm sure we will, finish the job and ensure the success of our operation in Afghanistan," he said. Enditem