The troops were needed to train local forces, Stoltenberg told reporters following talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May at her Downing Street office in London.
"We have received a request from our military authorities to increase our military presence in Afghanistan with a few thousand troops," he said.
"We are now assessing that request. We will make decisions on the scale and the scope of the mission within weeks.
"But this is not about returning back to a combat operation in Afghanistan.
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There are currently around 13,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan training local forces.
The issue will be high on the agenda at the NATO annual summit in Brussels on May 25.
US authorities have written to NATO allies and partners about the future of the 28-country alliance's presence in Afghanistan.
Stoltenberg said: "We will address our presence in Afghanistan at the leaders' meeting but we will also address what NATO can do to step up its efforts to fight terrorism, including providing support to the counter-ISIL coalition."
Since NATO's combat mission in Afghanistan formally ended in 2014, Taliban attacks have intensified and Afghan military and civilian casualties have risen.
Taliban dressed in Afghan army uniforms last month slaughtered at least 135 young recruits at a northern base.
The US, which is also targeting Islamic State group's affiliate in Afghanistan, dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on the group's hideouts earlier this month.
A British Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "The UK keeps its contribution in Afghanistan under regular review to ensure it remains suited for the needs of the mission.
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