Czech Army confirms last soldiers have withdrawn from Afghanistan

The last 12 Czech soldiers stationed in Afghanistan as part of a NATO mission returned home on Sunday along with all equipment and supplies, the Czech Army has confirmed. NATO is due to withdraw entirely by September 11 at the latest.

Since 2002, in total more than 11,500 Czech soldiers served in the Allied mission to Afghanistan, mostly in field hospitals, as members of surveillance, chemical and biological protection units, or as part of surgical or reconstruction teams. Fourteen were killed or died while on duty there.

During a conference on security issues last week, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said he was opposed to the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, echoing a statement by President Miloš Zeman. Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek (Social Democrats) has also questioned the move.