Germany to keep combat troops in Afghanistan after 2014: minister
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Dec 12, IRNA -- Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said here Monday German combat soldiers would remain in Afghanistan even beyond the 2014 date set by Berlin to transfer security responsibility to Afghan forces.
Talking to the daily Leipziger Volkszeitung, the minister said it was 'factually wrong' to think no German combat soldiers would be needed in Afghanistan after 2014.
De Maiziere left open as to how many troops would actually be deployed four years from now.
He pointed out combat ready soldiers would also be involved in training Afghan security forces.
Berlin had initially hoped to begin the pullout by the end of this year and conclude the withdrawal by 2014, depending on the overall Afghan security situation.
Germany has based around 5,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Dozens of German soldiers have reportedly been killed and hundreds more injured in Afghanistan since the start of the western war in that country in late 2001.
Most Germans remain deeply opposed to the controversial Afghan military mission.
A broad majority of Germans are sceptical on prospects for a military success in Afghanistan, according to a recent survey.
Some 70 percent of Germans don't believe that the NATO-led military operation can be successful.
Meanwhile, some 68 percent of Germans say their country should not have participated in the 10-year-old western military mission in Afghanistan.
Only 23 percent of Germans approve the deployment of German troops in the war-ravaged country.
OT**1412
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30708072
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