Nato leaders want a highpowered “international fixer” to be appointed for Afghanistan to help to force through political reforms and anti-drug policies, sources said on the eve of the alliance’s summit in Riga.

As two more Canadian soldiers were killed in southern Afghanistan yesterday, bringing Canada’s fatalities to 34 this year, the sources said it was vital that Nato’s military and reconstruction efforts were backed up by a heavyweight political initiative. “We need someone of real standing who can go to President Karzai in Kabul and to President Musharraf in Pakistan and knock heads together,” a senior diplomatic source said.

Nato leaders will discuss the appointment of a High Representative, similar to the role played by Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon in Bosnia. “We would like a real heavyweight like Paddy Ashdown,” the source said.

One name put forward is Lakhdar Brahimi, the former Algerian Foreign Minister, who played a significant role in Afghanistan and Iraq as a special United Nations envoy, although he fell into disfavour with the Americans after trying to form Bahgdad’s initial transitional government in 2004.

Mr Brahimi is now 72 and diplomats acknowledged that it was unlikely he would be willing to take up another high-pressured appointment.

Sources said that the issue would be discussed in Riga tonight. If the need for a civilian High Representative is agreed, Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, would be approached to find the best candidate.

“Our problem is that we’re getting on with the security and reconstruction, but there’s no one person appointed who can make sure that the Afghan Government gets on with issues such as disarming the warlords,” the source said.

The two Canadians were killed yesterday when a suicide bomber drove into their convoy in Kandahar province. The Taleban claimed responsibility.

The “unfair” burden of casualty risks suffered by Canada was highlighted last night by the US Republican Senator Dick Lugar, who criticised Nato members who were “placing national caveats on the use of their forces”.

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