Australia's new Defence Minister Stephen Smith has foreshadowed a boost in the country's commitment to Afghanistan during a visit to the war-torn country.
Mr Smith, visiting troops on the front line at Tarin Kowt, said he would ask the federal government to consider sending more police trainers to Afghanistan to help train the local security forces.
The minister earlier met the US commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, in Kabul.
Mr Smith said he planned to discuss with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and others the possibility of sending more police trainers to speed up the transition in Afghanistan.
It is the new defence minister's first visit to Afghanistan.
