TORONTO — Prime Minister Stephen Harper told President Bush on Wednesday that Canada will end its military mission in Afghanistan if another NATO country does not put more soldiers in the dangerous south, officials said.

Harper's Conservative government is under pressure to withdraw its 2,500 troops from Kandahar province, the former Taliban stronghold, after the deaths of 78 Canadian soldiers and a diplomat. The mission is set to expire in 2009 without an extension by Canadian lawmakers.

The refusal of some major European allies to send significant number of troops to the southern front lines has opened a rift within NATO. Troops from Canada, Britain, the Netherlands and the United States have borne the brunt of a resurgence of Taliban violence in the region, with support from Denmark, Romania, Estonia and non-NATO nation Australia.

Harper talked to Bush about the recommendation of an independent Canadian panel that the country continue its mission only if another NATO country musters 1,000 troops for Kandahar, said Harper spokeswoman Sandra Buckler.

"He underscored that, unless Canada was able to meet the conditions specified by the panel of additional combat troops and equipment from NATO Allies, Canada's mission in Afghanistan will not be extended," Buckler said.

The White House said the two leaders discussed the need for more troops.

"The two leaders discussed the requirements to sustain the current mission and how to ensure its continued success, including needs for additional troops and equipment," said White House press secretary Tony Fratto. "The president noted the deployment of 3,200 additional U.S. Marines to Afghanistan, as well as his continued commitment to work with NATO to enhance its commitment to the Afghanistan mission."

The U.S. contributes one-third of NATO's 42,000-strong International Security Assistance Force mission, making it the largest participant, on top of the 12,000 to 13,000 American troops operating independently.

The U.S. this month said it will send an extra 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan from April, including 2,200 combat troops who will bolster the NATO-led counterinsurgency force in the south. However, they are only scheduled to deploy for seven months, so will not answer Canada's demand for more backing beyond 2009.

Opposition parties have threatened to bring down Harper's minority government if he does not end the increasingly unpopular combat mission.

Harper has promised to put the future of the mission to a vote in Parliament, where the opposition parties hold the majority of seats.

NATO urged Canada on Wednesday not to pull its troops and pledged to help find the 1,000 troops.

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