Afghans say Obama promises more US military help

The telephone conversation between Obama and President Hamid Karzai on Saturday was the first reported contact between the two, although Obama spoke to at least 15 other world leaders in the three days after winning election.

A senior Afghan official dismissed the idea that anything should be read into the delay, calling Obama a "busy man."

"I think it was purely a logistical issue, nothing of political significance," said the adviser, who agreed to discuss the phone call only if not quoted by name because he wasn't authorized to talk about it.

Karzai's spokesman did not respond to requests for comment. A call to an Obama spokesperson was not immediately returned Sunday.

The leadership change from President George W. Bush could present Karzai with new challenges in his relationship with the U.S. Obama has chided Karzai and his government in the past, saying it had "not gotten out of the bunker" and helped to organize the country or its political and security institutions.

The United States has some 32,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, a number that will be increased by thousands next year. The current NATO commander, U.S. Gen. David McKiernan, has requested an additional 20,000 troops.

Fighting terrorism and the insurgency "in Afghanistan, the region and the world is a top priority," Karzai's office quoted Obama as saying.

"The region" is commonly used by Afghan officials to refer to neighboring Pakistan, where Karzai and Bush administration officials have longed complained that Taliban and al-Qaida militants have bases to support their attacks in Afghanistan.

Obama's reported pledge to step up military help likely pleased Karzai, whose relations with Pakistan are testy because of his accusations that the Pakistani intelligence service supports the Taliban in bombings in Afghanistan. Pakistan's government flatly denies the charge.