More NATO soldiers are heading to Afghanistan to reinforce the fight against Taliban militants, the alliance said Friday.

"The United States, Denmark and several other NATO member countries gave indications of their intention to send additional troops," as well as more aid for reconstruction, NATO said in a release.

The commitments to send new forces were made at an informal meeting of foreign ministers at NATO's headquarters in Brussels.

No numbers were released, nor when the reinforcements will arrive.

But British Gen. David Richards, NATO commander in Afghanistan, said the announcement was "fantastic news."

With as many as 15,000 Taliban members said to be preparing for a spring offensive, any extra soldiers will help. NATO has about 33,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, although many are based far from the volatile south, and have not been heavily engaged in fighting.

Richards disagreed with the assessment that the Taliban will launch a major offensive. He said the militants are too weak, and will only be able to launch smaller, sporadic attacks.

Canada has been pressing for more troops to be sent to the country to help the more than 2,000 Canadians who have been fighting in Kandahar province, a centre of the insurgency.

NATO secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the military and reconstruction activities will be more closely integrated "so Canadian forces are never on their own."

The Brussels meeting concluded that priorities include boosting the reconstruction and stepping up training for the Afghan army, police and administration.

The ministers also discussed the problem with the porous Afghan-Pakistan border. Many military observers believe Taliban members shelter in Pakistan and cross the border to launch attacks. 

With files from the Canadian Press