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| Afghanistan |
| Diggers to stay in Afghanistan |
| 2006-01-29 |
| AFGHAN President Hamid Karzai has warned that foreign troops may be required in the country until 2015. Amid discussions to boost Australia's military deployment to more than 500 troops, John Howard pledged yesterday to maintain Australia's commitment to the war on terrorism in Afghanistan. But talks are under way in Europe over whether a provincial reconstruction team would require Australia to send more troops this year. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will hold talks in London this week with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Mr Karzai, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr Karzai told the World Economic Forum in Davos at the weekend that foreign troops may be required for another five to 10 years to combat terrorists and insurgents. "That will take many more years to accomplish," he warned. The Prime Minister reaffirmed yesterday that his commitment to the war on terror would continue until the job was done. Australia announced earlier this month that it would send an extra 110 troops and two Chinook helicopters to Afghanistan. Mr Downer will discuss plans to send another 200 troops. However, Australia is also expected to consider withdrawing SAS troops from the region in the lead-up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum meeting in Sydney next year after they have served a 12-month tour of duty. Mr Downer will attend the conference on Afghanistan in London tomorrow and Wednesday. The conference will have the Afghan Government and its donors sign a five-year development plan. The document will outline ambitious targets such as building the army up to 70,000 soldiers, linking 40 per cent of villages with roads, and getting electricity to 65per cent of urban households and 25per cent of rural homes. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |
| #1 God bless our allies! |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-01-29 21:17 |