The end could be in sight for German troops in Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

http://www.dw-world.de/image/0,,6226321_1,00.jpg

There are 4,600 Bundeswehr soldiers in Afghanistan


The end could be in sight for German troops in Afghanistan
Afghanistan | 12.01.2011

The German government decided on Wednesday to extend the Bundeswehr mission in Afghanistan by one year. Parliament will vote on the decision on January 28, but the new mandate is likely to be approved.

The new mandate means the end is in sight for German soldiers in Afghanistan. According to German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle the withdrawal could begin later this year:

"We're confident that we will be able to start reducing the Bundeswehr deployment for at the end of the year," Westerwelle said. "For the first time we're starting to hand over regional responsibility to Afghan posts in the new year."

The new mission allows the German government to start gradually reducing the size of the deployment. There are curently 4,600 Bundeswehr troops based in Afghanistan. The maximum is 5,350.

The government is reluctant to name a concrete date for a withdrawal, because a pull-out can only begin if the security situation allows it.

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R