Defence minister outlines Czech plans for Afghanistan to US general Petraeus

The Czech troops deployed in Afghanistan are likely to operate in Kabul, Logar province and the Sharna helicopter base in Paktia province, the Czech defence minister, Martin Barták, said after talks in Prague with US General David Petraeus on Friday. Mr Barták also said the Czech provincial reconstruction team in the war-torn state would probably get more members. He presented the Czech plans for 2010 to General Petraeus, but said they would only be made public after they had been submitted to the Czech Parliament; the lower house is set to discuss the country’s mission in Afghanistan in June. General Petraeus, who oversees American military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, said he was mainly in the Czech capital to thank the Czechs for their operations in Afghanistan and the Balkans.