The international community must try to attract "moderate" Afghan insurgents away from the Taliban by giving them financial support that encourages them to support the Kabul government, according to a new report.

As Paddy Ashdown, the former British politician, prepares to take over as the new United Nations envoy in Afghanistan, the report, written by one of his former political aides, suggests the European Union should fund a "reconstruction benefit package" that could win over insurgents.

With Nato continuing to struggle against the Taliban, some western leaders, such as Gordon Brown, the British premier, have talked about the need for the international coalition to encourage insurgents to change sides. The new report -- to be published next week and written by Daniel Korski of the European Council on Foreign Relations -- goes further.

Mr Korski, who was political adviser to Lord Ashdown when he was UN high representative in Bosnia, suggests the EU should fund a €50bn ($73bn, £37bn) pilot scheme under which money can be paid in instalments to local leaders who want to develop clinics and schools.

He says: "The international community must encourage President Hamid Karzai to engage mid-ranking 'moderate' insurgents by developing a package of financial and other incentives which could encourage them to support the government rather than the Taliban."

Mr Korski says the EU needs to step up its security activity in Afghanistan. It should commit to meeting the shortfall in police trainers. Only 93 are currently working in Afghanistan compared with the 434 originally pledged.

He also notes that, in the short term, an extra 2,000 to 2,500 Nato troops are probably required for operations in the south, alongside the expected deployment of 3,500 more US marines.

The European council's report argues that EU governments should agree to lift the operational restrictions on existing deployments of troops to Afghanistan. Mr Korski believes that European states should begin to move their troops from the west to the east. This would allow the US to transfer its forces to the south, where fighting is heaviest, in support of the British, Canadians and Dutch.