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Germany debates increase in Afghanistan commitment
By Sebastian Schulte
18 February 2008
A discussion is under way in Germany on whether the country should increase its commitment to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
The debate follows the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy, held from 8 to 10 February, during which US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called for European countries to undertake combat roles in Afghanistan.
The German Ministry of Defence as well as the Federal Foreign Office regard the current mandate limit of 3,500 troops as insufficient, although an MoD spokesman said the department was still to verify whether a troop increase would make sense from a purely military point of view.
However, Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung countered the initial reports, saying "the limit of 3,500 troops stands and the regional coverage is not in question", dismissing calls from NATO allies for a German commitment in southern Afghanistan.