Germany is preparing to send more troops to Afghanistan following repeated requests from the US and other Nato countries, but it is unlikely to give in to pressure to deploy forces in the embattled south of the war-torn country.

Officials say Franz Josef Jung, the defence minister, is expected to announce this week a proposed increase from the current upper limit of 3,500 troops to a new limit of 4,500 soldiers from the autumn onwards, when parliament is due to approve the latest extension to Berlin’s overseas military mission.