President George W Bush will hold an unusual meeting this week with his counterparts from his Afghanistan and Pakistan to deal with the resurgence of violence in Afghanistan.

Five years after the defeat of the Taliban, the United States and NATO forces have witnessed a sharp increase in bloodshed as the Taliban appears to have regrouped and taken control of southern Afghanistan, largely assisted by their ability to slip across the Pakistani border for refuge while planning attacks.

NATO and US forces earlier this month launched a massive offensive dubbed 'Operation Medusa' aimed at rooting out the Taliban and asserting the Afghan government's control of the region.

Acknowledging it was surprised by the Taliban's strength and determination, NATO nevertheless said it has killed 1,000 Taliban in two weeks of fighting, in part aided by the militia's decision to fight conventionally on the battlefield.