Berlin set to bolster Afghan mission

Article reports that the German government looks set to raise the number of its troops in Afghanistan for civil reconstruction and peacekeeping activities by about 500 to 5,000, January 2010, resisting behind-the-scenes pressure from the US and other allies that it boost its contingent by 2,000 or more.

France would probably also send more troops for training Afghan forces.

United Kingdom: FCO: Global issues: Afghanistan: The London Conference http://centralcontent.fco.gov.uk/central-content/afghanistan-hmg/resources/pdf/conference/Communique-final

Deutsche Welle, 25.1.10: Merkel: German Afghan strategy in line with NATO stance http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5164296,00.html

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