German gov't approves gradual troop withdrawal from Afghanistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Dec 14, IRNA -- The German cabinet gave green light to the gradual troop pullout from Afghanistan, government spokesmen Steffen Seibert told media representatives here Wednesday.
The size of the German military personnel in Afghanistan will be reduced from currently 5,350 to 4,900 by February 2012.
Furthermore, an additional number of 500 German soldiers will be withdrawn from Afghanistan between February 2012 and February 2013, depending on the security situation of the war-stricken country.
The German parliament is expected to approve the move in late January.
Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said Monday that 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 that no German combat soldiers would be needed in Afghanistan after 2014.
De Maiziere left open as to how many troops would actually be deployed for 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.
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.
OT**1412
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30711824
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