Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told U.S. President George W. Bush by telephone that he'll pull Canada's troops from Afghanistan next year if the North Atlantic Treaty Organization doesn't provide more help.

Harper told Bush today that NATO must meet conditions recommended by a government-commissioned panel on Jan. 22, according to Sandra Buckler, a spokeswoman for the prime minister. The panel said NATO should provide about 1,000 more troops in the dangerous Kandahar region and arrange for additional military equipment.

Harper will spend ``the coming weeks discussing the government's response with leaders and other key players,'' Buckler said by e-mail.

Canada has had more casualties in Afghanistan than in any conflict since the Korean War. Seventy-eight soldiers and one diplomat have died since the mission began in 2002. About 2,500 Canadian troops are in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar region as part of NATO's 37,000-troop mission to fight the former Taliban regime and hunt al-Qaeda terrorists.

Harper appointed the five-member panel in October to review Canada's role. The panel, led by former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, said that Canadian troops should stay and focus on training Afghan forces, if NATO meets the conditions.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alexandre Deslongchamps in Ottawa at adeslongcham@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 30, 2008 17:32 EST