From Reuters: NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Friday urged Muslim nations to contribute troops for service in Afghanistan to help avoid the appearance of a religious war.

“Active participation by Muslim nations would underscore that NATO’s effort in Afghanistan is not about religion, but a struggle against extremism and terror,” Rasmussen said in an interview with the Danish daily newspaper Berlingske Tidende.

“And so in talks with a number of Muslim nations I have encouraged them to consider positively a contribution to the mission in Afghanistan,” said Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister who took over as NATO’s top official in August 2009.  (photo: BBC)