BERLIN: Germany’s defense ministry has announced that its troops will remain in Afghanistan for the time being after the U.S plans to keep troops in Afghanistan until at least the end of 2016.
The German defense ministry announced that current number of troops stationed in Afghanistan would be maintained at the same level, but did not provide an updated timeline on when troops would be withdrawn.
Germany’s Foreign affairs spokesman Martin Schäfer said that from the beginning of the military mission in Afghanistan, the guiding principle had been that allied troops that had gone into Afghanistan together would withdraw together.
The Germany had planned severe cuts to troop numbers by spring 2016, reducing its military presence to the capital city Kabul only. Currently, German soldiers only provide training for Afghan security forces, but recent clashes in the northern city of Kunduz may indicate that more work could be required.
