While he praised Canadian troops for their efforts in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Jean Chretien told reporters the military shouldn't expect more funding.

Matt McClure, a CTV correspondent in Kabul, told Newsnet that the prime minister was received politely when he thanked the troops for their hard work.

But when he was asked about increasing defence spending -- and Auditor-General Sheila Fraser has suggested the military doesn't have enough money to replace aging equipment -- Chretien said the government was doing the best it could, McClure said.

"Last year, we gave them virtually a billion dollars," he said, prior to touring the main Canadian camp southwest of Kabul. "And it was one of the requests that came from the (defence) committee."

"But it's never enough. I have never seen an army anywhere in the world who returned a government money -- anywhere. They all need more and they all have plans for more. It is a question of priority."

The prime minister, who retires in February after 10 years in the job, also met with Afghanistan's interim president, Hamid Karzai, at the presidential palace, where the two discussed plans to expand the NATO force beyond Kabul.

Canada currently has 1,950 troops engaged in peace-support operations with the 32-nation International Security Assistance Force -- by far the largest single contributor.

It has also committed $250 million in aid money to Afghanistan over two years.

Canada's one-year military commitment to Afghanistan will end next summer and it is widely believed Ottawa will maintain a presence in the war-torn country, possibly deploying smaller provincial reconstruction teams to areas where fighting still exists.

"If eventually the mandate changes, if our mandate is terminated in eight or nine months from now, we might decide'' on deploying provincial reconstruction teams, he said. "That decision will be made by somebody else, I guess -- unless I change my mind (about retiring). But I won't."

Chretien flew in from Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, for the four-hour visit to Kabul, capital of Afghanistan.

Soldiers had spent most of the week assembling a gravel parade square for Chretien to address the troops. The band played 'O Canada' on his arrival, and then two bagpipes played as Chretien inspected a guard of honour.

He met with senior military commanders, then delivered a speech to assembled troops.

"I have to tell you that I am very happy to be here," Chretien said. "It will be the last time in my career as prime minister that I'm meeting the Canadian troops. ..."

"Over my time as prime minister, we have had to ask more and more of the Canadian Forces," he told them. "In the last 10 years, you have undertaken more deployments to more regions than at any time in Canada's history.

"In each case, you were the best Canada could offer. In every case your efforts brought very positive results."

Chretien then visited troops in their tents, walked along rows of armoured vehicles and past Canadian-made Iltis jeeps like the one in which two Canadian soldiers were killed by a landmine near the base Oct. 2.

The troops, most of whom do not consider Chretien a friend of the military after years of hefty budget cuts, seemed nonetheless impressed by his visit.

Outside the partitioned parade area, dozens of off-duty soldiers gathered with their small digital cameras to catch a glimpse of the prime minister.

"He seemed to take a keen interest in all the soldiers he spoke to," said Sgt.-Maj. Carl Deroche, an 18-year Forces veteran originally from the Caribbean. "I think everybody here is pretty much impressed when somebody that powerful comes to the camp."

McClure said Karzai was effusive in his praise for Canada's efforts in his country.

"Take back to Canada the thanks and gratitude of the Afghan people," Karzai told Chretien.

Karzai said any contribution from anyone in bolstering the Kabul multi-national force would be appreciated, but he did not directly appeal to Canada.

Chretien said Canada has no additional troops to spare at this time but he would lobby other countries to contribute to security and reconstruction in Afghanistan's troubled provinces.

He did leave the door open to more immediate contributions outside the capital if additional international forces shore up ISAF in the city, where the remnants of over two decades of war are everywhere.

With a report from The Canadian Press