OTTAWA — Canada will send tanks and add about 200 more soldiers to bolster its presence in southern Afghanistan, an initiative which the military described as "a normal practice" for the kind of situation Canadian soldiers are now facing there.

General Rick Hillier, chief of Canada's defence staff, announced this afternoon that the Forces are strengthening reconstruction and stabilization efforts in Afghanistan.

After getting final approval from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Hillier has decided to send the following immediately to Afghanistan:

• An infantry company from Valcartier, Quebec;
• A Leopard tank squadron from Edmonton to better protect and enable the Canadian Forces to fight in those areas where Taliban forces have established well-coordinated and determined defences;
• Military engineers to manage reconstruction and development projects;
• A counter-mortar capability to locate Taliban forces that are targeting Canadian Forces installations with indirect mortar fire.

In total, about 450 soldiers and up to 15 tanks will be sent to Afghanistan. At the same time, about 250 headquarters personnel will return to Canada because of changes in the command structure, meaning an increase of 200 troops.

But retired Col. Michel Drapeau told CTV Newsnet that the actual number of personnel could be much higher.

He said a squadron usually has 120 to 125 people. But the tanks will require dozens of people to keep them operating.

"Tanks are large, very sophisticated machines," said Drapeau. "They require a lot of tender loving care. You will need mechanics, you will need supply technicians... So when you add all the support staff to it, and I would estimate it to be in the order of 150 or so, you do the math and you're into the 400 range."

The reinforcements are being sent at the request of the Canadian commanders in Afghanistan. Once the additional forces are in Afghanistan, Canada will have about 2,500 troops in the region. Canadian troops will make up well over 10 per cent of all NATO troops in Afghanistan.

"Canadian soldiers face a complex and very demanding mission in Afghanistan," the Department of National Defence says in a statement. "The situation on the ground in Afghanistan recently shifted due to the changing tactics of the Taliban operating in the southern region, where Canadian and NATO troops are seeking to stabilize areas.

"Increased capabilities are needed to provide Task Force Afghanistan Commanders with the most effective tools they required to give them more options in the field of operations. These resources provide greater mobility, protection of our troops, flexibility and precision firepower."

The military plans to send four tanks as soon as transportation can be arranged. Another nine are expected to arrive later.

Hillier said troops need the added firepower against the Taliban.

"We told our young men and women when we sent them to Afghanistan ... we know that the risk is high but we would ensure that they had the necessary capabilities and necessary tools to do their job," Hillier said.

"We're all aware that conditions have changed ... We saw a change in (Taliban) tactics where they really moved from a guerrilla warfare type style, a counter-insurgency, to some conventional techniques."

Earlier in the day, NATO's top commander at headquarters in Belgium renewed an appeal for allies to urgently provide up to 2,500 troops for the battle with Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan.

This follows Poland's offer of 900 troops in February, but NATO is hoping for further and faster contributions of troops, planes and helicopters.