French troops to pull out by 2012: Hollande
26 May 2012 7:01 AM GMT
All French combat forces will pull out of Afghanistan by the end of the year, France's new president said in Kabul on Friday, but some trainers will remain to help Afghanistan's nascent security forces.
Francois Hollande said that France's troops have carried out their mission in Afghanistan and it is time for them to leave, an early pullout that will be coordinated with the United States and other allies.
'There will be no combat troops' after the end of the year, Hollande said during a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Hollande flew to Afghanistan to meet with troops and to discuss plans with Karzai to withdraw French combat troops more than a year earlier than scheduled. His visit was not announced ahead of time for security reasons, and he was expected to depart shortly after the news conference. Hollande said that France will pull its 2,000 combat troops, out of a total of 3,300, out by the end of the year.
Some would stay behind to help send military equipment back to France, and others would help train the Afghan army and police.
Francois Hollande said that France's troops have carried out their mission in Afghanistan and it is time for them to leave, an early pullout that will be coordinated with the United States and other allies.
'There will be no combat troops' after the end of the year, Hollande said during a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Hollande flew to Afghanistan to meet with troops and to discuss plans with Karzai to withdraw French combat troops more than a year earlier than scheduled. His visit was not announced ahead of time for security reasons, and he was expected to depart shortly after the news conference. Hollande said that France will pull its 2,000 combat troops, out of a total of 3,300, out by the end of the year.
Some would stay behind to help send military equipment back to France, and others would help train the Afghan army and police.
Next Story
