Obama not likely to ask Lee MB for troop dispatch to Afghanistan

U.S. President Barack Obama will likely not ask South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to send South Korean troops to Afghanistan when they meet in Seoul next month, Korean ambassador Han Duck-soo said Thursday and Yonhap News reported.

"We`ve not yet received any such request from the U.S. government and we do not expect such a request will be made in the summit between leaders of the two countries next month," Han told a parliamentary inspection session at the Korean embassy here.

The U.S. government is seeking support from its allies to help stabilize the war-torn Central Asian country.

Obama himself is being pressured by the U.S. military to dispatch 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan, where alleged fraud in the recent election of U.S-backed President Hamid Karzai have helped strengthen the Taliban insurgency.

About 68,000 American troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan, which some fear might turn out to be another quagmire for the U.S. like the Vietnam War.

Han said that his government agrees to the need to help in Afghanistan`s rehabilitation and stabilization.

"We are making a decision, regardless of a U.S. position, taking into consideration the needs there, related circumstances and our resources available in a comprehensive manner," he said.

"The U.S. position in general is that countries need to volunteer to help Afghanistan`s stabilization and rehabilitation within their ability."