Washington ( CNN ) -- As many as 2,000 additional troops -- including a number of U.S. forces -- may be headed to Afghanistan in the coming weeks under a plan backed by Gen. David Petraeus , CNN has learned . Petraeus has not commented publicly on the need for more troops , but a U.S. defense official and a senior NATO official directly familiar with his thinking and the entire matter have confirmed details to CNN . The proposal for more troops has been briefed to NATO officials behind closed doors . According to the NATO source , it calls for an additional 2,000 troops including at least 750 personnel to serve as trainers for Afghan forces . The trainers specifically would work to teach Afghan units how to support their operations in the field . The balance of the forces would work largely to counter the still significant threat posed by improvised explosive devices ( IEDs ) . Another NATO official tells CNN `` it 's highly likely '' many of the additional forces will be U.S. troops . Some NATO member countries are politically ambivalent about the war , he noted . And practically , it is only U.S. forces that have the most advanced equipment to counter roadside bombs . In May , Defense Secretary Robert Gates sent 850 U.S. military trainers on a temporary deployment when European countries could not pledge enough of their own forces . This latest need for 2,000 forces goes beyond that to include counter-IED forces , although some small number of the at least 750 additional trainers could replace those already there . No final decisions have been made on any additional U.S. troops . NATO military authorities are scheduled to meet in the coming days to try to get specific troop commitments from member nations . The goal is to get the matter resolved before a November NATO summit in which U.S. and NATO military commanders are expected to discuss progress in the war . It is not clear whether the new effort will bring the troop levels above the 30,000 additional U.S. forces authorized by President Barack Obama earlier this year , as it will depend on how many troops the NATO countries contribute and the potential re-assignment of existing forces . The president also authorized the Pentagon at the time to deploy 3,000 forces , but more than half of those 3,000 have already been earmarked . NATO sources emphasize they believe the bulk of the additional 2,000 will likely have to come from the US . The potential for yet another troop increase , even a relatively small one , is already being defended by NATO . The senior official told CNN `` this relatively small uplift -- less than 2 percent of the 150,000 in theatre from the coalition -- reflects the direction of the campaign : training the Afghan security forces to prepare for transition , as well as protecting our forces . '' A U.S. military official also confirms that in recent weeks the discussion of the `` withdrawal '' of forces from certain areas of Afghanistan beginning in July 2011 has taken a bit of a twist . The official said the withdrawal in some areas will signify that those areas may be turned over to Afghan control , but that may not mean troops will come home . The latest options call for taking those troops not needed and sending them to other areas where security is still poor .
Sources say new troops would include more trainers for Afghan forces . The U.S. is also considering sending a small number of special operations advisers to help train and advise the Afghans. ` It 's highly likely '' many of the additional forces would be U.S. troops . NATO authorities will meet soon to get specific commitments from member nations .