US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has urged NATO allies not to rush out of Afghanistan as he vowed that a US troop draw down next month will not mean a hasty exit for Washington. Gates, who attended his final NATO meeting in Brussels before retiring at the end of the month, said the alliance is making substantial military progress on the ground. Speaking at a news conference he reiterated his belief that these gains could be threatened if the transition to Afghan security is not preceded in a deliberate, organised and coordinated manner. He assured his fellow ministers that even as the United States begins to draw down next month, there will be no rush to the exits on the part of the United States and expected the same from allies. The draw down has been a source of disagreement within the Obama administration, with Gates sparring with White House aides pushing for a major reduction of the 100,000 US troops, who are reinforced by 30,000 other foreign forces. Gates shares the view of commanders that a troop surge in the nearly 10-year-old war has begun to show results and that a withdrawal should proceed at a careful pace.