'France Eyes Bigger Afghan Deployment', Associated Press, 1 April 2008
EXCERPT: "France may contribute "several hundred" more troops to reinforce the fight against the Taliban and their al-Qaida allies in Afghanistan, the prime minister told parliament Tuesday [1 April 2008]. Francois Fillon, speaking at the National Assembly amid domestic opposition to a bigger French deployment, said NATO and its allies must stop Afghanistan from again becoming a hub of international terrorism. It was the first time a senior French official publicly gave a figure for France's plans to boost its forces in Afghanistan. Afghanistan plays a large part 'in our security, and thus our freedom,' Fillon said. 'The deployment could be of the order of several hundred extra soldiers.' Fillon did not say what the new forces would be. But he said that French forces in Afghanistan could be called upon to get more involved in command operations, training the Afghan army, and security and reconstruction efforts in the provinces. He did not specify where."
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See also:
'Sarkozy's troop pledge may encourage others', The Independent, 1 April 2008
'France faces censure over new Afghanistan troops', Defense News, 1 April 2008
'Poll: More than two-thirds of French oppose Afghanistan deployment', PR Inside, 1 April 2008
'France's Afghan boost, gateway to NATO', Press TV, 31 March 2008
'Prospect of French NATO return tilts power balance', Reuters, 30 March 2008
Related posts:
'Sarkozy sets out France's Afghan stance to NATO', 7 March 2008
'France mulls greater role in Afghanistan', 14 February 2008
