Paris: France`s new defence minister says
Afghanistan is a "trap" for allied troops and that leaders
will discuss the prospects for a drawdown at a NATO summit
this weekend.
Alain Juppe has reiterated in a radio interview that
France has no intentions of keeping troops in Afghanistan
indefinitely and will discuss which zones there could return
to the responsibility of Afghan forces.
He told Europe-1 today that Afghanistan is "a trap for
all the contingents that are there." He said France has no
plans to fully withdraw its troops until "Afghan authorities
have the situation in hand."
Afghan leaders are expected to attend a NATO summit in
Lisbon, Portugal, this weekend.
France has about 3,850 troops engaged in US-led and
NATO missions in and around Afghanistan.
PTI
