KABUL — A deadly bombing caused Italy to become the latest nation to question its role in Afghanistan today, highlighting the pressure facing dozens of militaries confronting a protracted war — and an Afghan government ill-equipped to handle its problems alone.

Final election results from last month's presidential vote are weeks away at best and violence is on the rise — demonstrated by the explosion that killed 10 Afghans and six Italian soldiers on one of Kabul's main roadways. The bombing prompted Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to call for a "transition strategy" to allow the Afghan government to do more for its own security and decrease international troop levels.

The Italian deaths were the country's greatest single loss in the war. Another Italian official called for troops to be out by Christmas.