By John M. Donnelly, CQ Staff

Senators expressed growing concern Thursday about the deteriorating military situation in Afghanistan after two new independent reports said that Taliban insurgents have fought U.S-led NATO forces there to a “strategic stalemate.”

At a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, both Democrats and Republicans demanded answers from two top Bush administration officials on why the situation in Afghanistan has worsened, despite more than six years of commitment by the United States and its allies at a cost of billions of dollars.

Richard Boucher, assistant secretary of State for South and Central Asian affairs, and David T. Johnson, assistant secretary for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs, tried to put the best face on the situation, touting improvements in Afghanistan’s infrastructure and educational achievements.

Earlier this month, in recognition of the worsening security situation, the Pentagon announced it was sending 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan in anticipation of an expected Taliban offensive this spring.

Senators appeared unswayed by the administration testimony.

“The overall situation in Afghanistan remains grave,” said Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, the committee’s ranking Republican and one of the Senate’s most respected voices on foreign affairs.

“Democratic institutions are fragile and the government does not control significant regions of the country,” Lugar said. “A massive drug trade funds the Taliban, which despite setbacks seems to be able to regenerate its ranks.”

Other Republicans also expressed worries about Afghanistan, which has received far less resources than Iraq.

“Afghanistan right now is in danger of failing, no question,” said Norm Coleman , R-Minn. “We cannot afford to fail in Afghanistan.”

Democrats were scathing in their critique of what they characterized as the Bush administration’s failed strategy for Afghanistan.

“Security is probably at its lowest ebb since 2001,” said Joseph R. Biden Jr. , D-Del., the committee chairman. Citing the Taliban’s growing strength and the safe haven that al Qaeda enjoys along the border with Pakistan, he questioned the administration’s assertions that its Afghanistan policy is working.

“I am curious what the policy is, because it’s not clear to me,” Biden said. “I believe the war in Afghanistan is winnable, but I don’t believe we’re winning it. I believe we need a new strategy for success.”

‘New Strategy for Success’

First and foremost, Biden called for more resources to be sent to Afghanistan to establish security, including helicopters, airlift capacity, unmanned surveillance aircraft and military trainers. The new Marine deployment is not sufficient, he said.

“If we should be surging forces anywhere, it’s in Afghanistan, not Iraq,” Biden added.

Biden also called for more money for reconstruction and a program to target Afghanistan’s drug kingpins.

Lugar also criticized what he termed a lack of policy focus.

“I’m not sure we have a plan for Afghanistan,” Lugar said. Without one, he added, “the situation is going to be the victim of the politics of this country and maybe others.”

Boucher cited positive indicators on several fronts: higher gross domestic product and more security forces, electricity, roads built and children in school than before the U.S.-led invasion in late 2001.

Boucher and Johnson acknowledged that Afghanistan’s opium production had reached record levels — accounting for some 93 percent of the worldwide total — but they said it has been curtailed in certain regions of the country.

The Taliban are resorting to more suicide bombings, roadside explosives and kidnappings, the officials conceded, but they claimed the insurgents are using such tactics because they are losing on the battlefield. They said an international donors conference this summer would augment funding for development.

“Nobody can tell me we’re not going in a positive direction,” said Boucher.

However, he stressed U.S. concerns about a dwindling commitment to Afghanistan by NATO and the international community.

“The mission in Afghanistan needs more troops, equipment — such as helicopters — and trainers for the Afghan army and police,” he said. “We expect more from our NATO allies. We have promised the Afghan people to assist in stabilizing their country, and we must give NATO personnel the tools they need to make good on that promise. Too few of our allies have combat troops fighting the insurgents, especially in the south.”

Boucher said the NATO summit in Bucharest in April would be a chance to work on this.

The two independent assessments that rattled lawmakers — one prepared by the Atlantic Council of the United States and the other by the Afghanistan Study Group — were released at a Capitol Hill news conference on Jan. 30. Taken together, the reports painted a grim portrait of Afghanistan as a failing state six years after the U.S. invasion that toppled the Taliban government and urgently called for a new NATO strategy before the expected Taliban offensive.

“Make no mistake, NATO is not winning in Afghanistan,” the report by the Atlantic Council said. “Unless this reality is understood and action is taken promptly, the future of Afghanistan is bleak, with regional and global impact.”

Adam Graham-Silverman contributed to this story.