* Ottawa says will stick to plan to end mission in 2011

* Canada has lost 127 soldiers so far in Afghanistan (Recasts, adds details)

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA, Aug 6 (Reuters) - NATO wants Canada to extend its military mission in southern Afghanistan beyond the planned 2011 withdrawal date, the alliance's new secretary-general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said on Thursday, increasing the pressure on Ottawa to change its mind.

The remarks were the most pointed yet by NATO, some of whose senior members are working behind the scenes to persuade Ottawa to change its mind about ending the 2,700-strong combat mission in Kandahar in 2011.

Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon quickly reiterated that Ottawa would stick to its withdrawal plan.

The federal government, which has long complained that Canadian troops are bearing a disproportionate burden in Afghanistan, vows it will abide by a Parliamentary vote to end the mission in 2011.

"Of course I'm not going to interfere with domestic politics in individual allied nations, but seen from an alliance point of view, I would strongly regret if that became the final outcome of the Canadian considerations," Rasmussen told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp in Kandahar.

"At the end of the day it is a question of our own security -- we cannot allow Afghanistan once again to become a safe haven for terrorists -- and I also think it is in Canada's interest to ensure a peaceful and stable Afghanistan," said the Dane, who took over the job last Saturday.

Diplomats say some NATO member nations -- in particular the United States -- have privately told Canada they would welcome a decision to maintain a military presence there beyond 2011.

Canada has lost 127 soldiers so far since first sending troops to Afghanistan in late 2002.

"The comments made by the NATO secretary general, I understand, are first an acknowledgment of the great work Canada has done in Kandahar," Cannon said in comments relayed by a spokeswoman.

"On the other comments, however, our government is abiding by the motion passed in Parliament in 2008 -- that is that our combat forces will leave by 2011. We are staying the course."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canadian troops will have been in Afghanistan almost 10 years by the end of 2011 and says that is long enough.

Senior Canadian military officials say the army is worn out and will need at least 18 months to recover once the mission ends.

Some military observers and diplomats speculate that once the combat mission has ended, some Canadian troops might remain behind to help train their Afghan counterparts. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Rob Wilson)

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