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Afghanistan would welcome more troops
Real estate news By The Age
October 15, 2007 - 11:49PM
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai says his country would welcome an increased troop commitment from Australia, a plan Labor says it would consider if elected. Labor has said it would be "attentive to any requests" for more troops, but would make the judgment based on Australia's defence resources at the time. The coalition says it plans to maintain the current troop presence but is refusing to commit to any additional personnel in the near term.
Mr Karzai said Afghanistan would welcome any moves for Australia to increase its troop numbers, as well as other types of aid. "We would want more Australian assistance," he told ABC television. "Now, that assistance can take various fronts. "If Australia can send us more troops, in order to stabilise the country further, in order to conduct a more vigorous campaign against terrorism, that would be welcome."
Australia currently has just under 1,000 troops in southern Afghanistan, comprising the reconstruction task force and special operations task group, both operating in Oruzgan province. Mr Karzai said Afghanistan needed more international troops to man the borders and prevent insurgents entering the country, and also train and equip local security forces. He did not want to put a timeframe on how long foreign troops would be needed. The Afghan army was now 45,000 strong, but the government was aiming for 70,000 troops, and for it to be properly equipped with weapons, planes and other equipment, he said.
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