Afghans welcome NATO expansion, Taliban threaten (Reuters)

KABUL (Reuters) -Afghanistan welcomed NATO's decision to expand its peacekeeping mission on Friday, saying it would boost security, while the Taliban said more alliance troops would only increase opportunities for guerillas to attack them.

NATO foreign ministers approved mission rules on Thursday for an expanded Afghan peacekeeping force next year, which Washington hopes will allow it to cut U.S. troop levels in the country.

The agreement leaves the most dangerous counter-insurgency work in the hands of the 20,000-strong U.S.-led force but gives NATO more scope to help Afghan forces with training and other tasks such as disarming illegal groups.

"The people of Afghanistan thank them for their contribution to security and reconstruction," President Hamid Karzai told reporters at his heavily fortified presidential palace.

Semper Fi