NATO will increase its mission's troop numbers in Afghanistan from 13,000 to 16,000, chief of the alliance said Tuesday.

AVA- Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said this at a press conference ahead of NATO defesne-ministerial meeting in Brussels.

He said that the additional troops will be provided half by U.S. and half by NATO allies.

“We will not go back into combat operations, but we need to strengthen the train, assist and advise mission to help the Afghans break the stalemate, to send a clear message to the Taliban insurgents that they will not win on the battleground,” Stoltenberg said. The only way they can achieve anything is by sitting down at a negotiating table and be part of a peaceful negotiated political solution.” Stoltenberg said that NATO will particularly focus on training the Afghan special operation forces, which he said have proven key in the fight against insurgents.

He added that NATO will help Afghans in the development of air force and military schools.

On funding, Stoltenberg said that non-U.S. allies have promised $1 billion yearly to support the Afghan army and police.

On Pakistan problem, NATO chief said that the alliance will continue to raise with Pakistan the issue of militant safe havens.

“No country should provide any kind of sanctuary to the Taliban or the terrorists because that just makes the fight against terrorists more difficult,” Stoltenberg said.