OTTAWA — Almost two weeks after Canada's NATO allies declared solidarity and a willingness to help each other in southern Afghanistan, a senior British politician warned reluctant countries to "get real'' about a resurgent Taliban.

Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells' exasperated appeal Monday to "stay until the job is done'' appeared aimed at countries still reticent about putting troops in harm's way as well as at wavering politicians in Canada and elsewhere.

"What makes me more angry than anything else is the notion that somehow if you're not targeted at the moment then you really shouldn't get involved,'' he told a diplomatic audience at Canada's Foreign Affairs headquarters.

"Everybody is targeted.''

Taking aim at the continued aversion of some NATO members to shoulder more of the combat load in the south, Howells said there "can't be a light war for some and a heavy war for others.''

Britons are just as frustrated as other allies about bearing the brunt of heavy fighting in the country's south, he said.

"For Canadians, I'm sure the feeling must be just as we feel, which is because some troops have some uniforms on they're allowed to die in Afghanistan in order to protect freedom and extend democracy, and other troops are not allowed to do that,'' he said.

"We're all members of NATO.''

His comments came the same day Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe threatened to topple the Conservative minority government over its Afghanistan policy.

Newly elected Liberal Leader Stephane Dion voted against extending Canada's combat role in Kandahar last spring and has spoken vaguely about achieving an "honourable withdrawal.''

The idea was flatly dismissed by Howells, who noted he hasn't spoken to Dion.

"It seems to me the most honourable course would be to see that fight through and to ensure the ordinary people of Afghanistan have a decent future, and we are protected from the influences that led to Sept. 11 and other atrocities,'' he said in a question-and-answer session.

"Al-Qaida won't withdraw with honour.''

Asked about Howells' comments, Dion said studies by non-governmental agencies in Britain back his position. He accused the Conservatives of misrepresenting his views to other countries.

"I know the mission in Afghanistan is not going very well at all ... for the very reason that half of the economy is in illicit activity,'' Dion said after question period.

Something has to be done because the illegal trade in opium "gives a lot of power to the Taliban and warlords.''

Canada has 2,500 troops in Kandahar province and the British have garrisoned 4,300 soldiers in neighbouring Helmand.

Howells says they are standing shoulder to shoulder "in two of the toughest places on the face of the earth,'' where progress toward reconstruction and development has been slower than expected.

He dismissed as "nonsense'' the arguments of some Canadian politicians, notably NDP Leader Jack Layton, that there needs to more emphasis on reconstruction and less on war-fighting.

"You can't do that if you've got Taliban and drug warlords shooting at you.''

German, Italian, French and Spanish forces patrol relatively quiet sectors and have refused to allow their soldiers to engage in direct combat.   

At the NATO summit two weeks ago, those countries agreed to loosen restrictions and promised to help Canadian, British, Dutch and American forces battling the Taliban, but only in emergencies.

In a further measure meant to paper over the messy split, the allies agreed to an ambiguous proposal to send a handful of reinforcements to Afghanistan, including jetfighters, helicopters and few companies of infantry.

Aside from French President Jacques Chirac's pledge of more aircraft and looser restrictions, it's not clear what countries will actually provide support. As the summit ended, it was also unclear whether any of the promised help would make its way to the front lines in the south.