KABUL - The top US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military commander in Afghanistan on Wednesday hailed President Barack Obama's new strategy for the war and said his "main focus" now will be to build up Afghan security forces.

"The Afghanistan-Pakistan review led by the President has provided me with a clear military mission and the resources to accomplish our task," US Army General Stanley McChrystal said in a statement.

"The clarity, commitment and resolve outlined in the president?s address are critical steps toward bringing security to Afghanistan and eliminating terrorist safe havens that threaten regional and global security," he said.

McChrystal, who commands US forces in Afghanistan as well as NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), vowed to shift hand Afghan security forces fresh responsibility "as rapidly as conditions allow."

"In the meantime, our Afghan partners need the support of Coalition forces while we grow and develop the capacity of the Afghan army and police. That will be the main focus of our campaign in the months ahead," he said.

The general had warned Obama that failure to turn the conflict around over the next year could mean a US defeat was inevitable and requested tens of thousands more troops to be sent to the Afghanistan.

McChrystal's endorsement, made public shortly before Obama formally unveiled the strategy in a high-stakes televised speech, was likely to all-but banish open opposition from Obama's Republican foes in the US Congress.

The general said US-led forces in Afghanistan were "encouraged" by Obama's approach and "remain resolute to empowering the Afghan people to reject the insurgency and build their own future.

"The concerted commitment of the international community will prevail in bringing real change to Afghanistan ? a secure and stable environment that allows for effective governance, improved economic opportunity and the freedom of every Afghan to choose how they live," he said.