Troop increase in Afghanistan to last only until 2012

Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra said Friday that a planned increase in the numbers of Czech troops to Afghanistan would only last until 2012. On Thursday, plans were announced to send an additional 200 soldiers to Afghanistan next year, bringing the total number to around 730. However, Mr Vondra says that a clear indication must be sent that the soldiers will not be there forever, and their numbers will be cut to around 620 in 2012. Around half of the increase will involve elite soldiers, while the government also wants to send more military police officers to the war-torn state. The majority of the 530 Czech troops currently in Afghanistan are operating in a provincial reconstruction team in the province of Logar.