President George W. Bush is sending an additional 3,200 troops to Afghanistan to bolster US and Nato forces ahead of an expected tough spring offensive by the resurgent Taliban.

Borrowing the rhetoric of US and Nato commanders, who are preparing to step up their campaign against the Taliban, Mr Bush said: “This spring there’s going to be a new offensive in Afghanistan. It’s going to be a Nato offensive, and that’s part of our strategy.”