Senate’s foreign affairs committee backs Czech reinforcements in Afghanistan

The Senate’s foreign affairs committee on Thursday expressed support for the government’s proposal to increase the 500 strong Czech presence in Afghanistan by 100 men. The Czech foreign and defense ministries have argued that a stronger presence is essential for the Czech Republic to be able to fulfill its tasks in assisting the war-torn country’s reconstruction over the next three years. The Czech mission will require around 100 million crowns a year. The Czechs are stationed in the southern province of Logar where they are assisting in building schools, waterworks and hospitals as well as training Iraqi police.