Brussels  - NATO has raised all the troops it needs to provide security for August's Afghan elections, the alliance's spokesman said Tuesday ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers.

"We can tick the box on that one: we've met it," James Appathurai told journalists in Brussels.

NATO commanders have asked allies to contribute eight battalions to provide extra security for the August 20 elections and a possible later run-off round. The United States has pledged to send four of those battalions, with European members set to send the other four.

The extra troops will be tasked with supporting the Afghan police and army, who are set to play the leading role in protecting voters from the Taliban-led insurgency.

"This is very much their show, and we're going to do what we can to support that show," Appathurai said.

Defence ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are set to discuss operations in Afghanistan, NATO's single most important mission, when they hold talks in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

The meeting should also approve a new plan for training the Afghan police force to carry out paramilitary duties, alongside current training efforts led by the European Union, Appathurai said.

NATO "will take on a substantial role in training the police," with embedded training teams "deploying with formed units," he said.

Ministers are also set to debate the alliance's efforts to crack down on Afghanistan's flourishing drugs trade.

In recent months, NATO and government forces have destroyed thousands of kilos of drugs and precursors, and at least 35 laboratories, Appathurai said.(dpa)