More than 400 extra troops will be sent to Afghanistan to train local troops and help with upcoming elections, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced here on Wednesday.

Rudd said in a press conference that the troop commitment in Afghanistan will increase from 1,100 to 1,550, but there will be no additional combat troops.

The extra troops will be used to train the Afghan National Army and provide security for elections scheduled for August, he said.

Of the additional troops being deployed, 100 would join 440 Australian soldiers already operating in Afghanistan as part of the mentoring and reconstruction taskforce.

Australia presently has some 1,100 troops in the war-torn nation, mostly operating in the dangerous Oruzgan province in the country's south-central region.

"We must not allow Afghanistan to once again become the unimpeded training ground and operating base for global terrorist activity," Rudd told reporters.

He also said when the situation in Afghanistan went calm, the Australian troops will be withdrawn. "The Australian government has no interest in Australian forces being in Afghanistan for a day longer than is necessary."

The prime minister said Australia's commitment was discussed with U.S. President Barack Obama last week following "extensive deliberations" by the National Security Committee of federal cabinet.

The United States had boosted its forces by 21,000 from 38,000 to nearly 60,000 and requested additional forces from its allies.