KABUL: German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere said yesterday on a visit to Afghanistan that his government would decide in the coming days on the next steps in withdrawing troops from the country.
De Maiziere told a press conference with his Afghan counterpart Bismullah Khan Mohammadi that the cabinet would agree “within the next week” on troop levels during the drawdown over the next two years.
“First of all the redeployment of our troops until the end of 2014 will be reliable, sufficient and sustainable,” said De Maiziere.
Germany currently has around 4,800 troops in Afghanistan.
it is also currently the third largest contingent under Nato’s International Security Assistance Force, behind Britain’s 9,500 troops and the some 68,000 US troops.
It has agreed with its Nato partners to gradually pull combat forces out of the country by the end of 2014 as Afghan troops assume more responsibility for security.
AFP
