Forty Czech soldiers to join NATO team in Afghanistan next month

The Czech Republic is to send another 40 soldiers to Afghanistan in March, according to the Defence Ministry. The Czech troops will serve in a German-led NATO reconstruction team, and will be based near the town of Fayzabad in the north of the country; they will focus on maintaining security, protecting international units and co-operation with local people. The Czech Republic already has a 15-member Army team in Kabul; it deals with explosives and takes part in weather and geographical observation.