Germany wants to extend Afghanistan mission by one year: newspaper

The German government wants to extend its deployment in Afghanistan for one year initially, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag cited high-ranking NATO sources as saying.

Although NATO has withdrawn almost all of its combat troops, it still has soldiers stationed in the country to train local forces. Up to about 850 German troops are in Afghanistan on this mission.

NATO had planned to withdraw all forces by the end of next year.

"At the meeting of the NATO defense ministers in the coming week in Brussels, Berlin will suggest extending the mandate for the Afghanistan deployment by one year," the newspaper cited a NATO source as saying.

"Germany does not want to put what has already been achieved in Afghanistan on the line. The final withdrawal, which is planned for 2016, is premature given the Taliban attacks," the source added. - Read More at Reuters

Germany wants to extend Afghanistan mission by one year: newspaper

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