First Batch of German Soldiers Fly to Afghanistan Soon

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, December 30, 2001

First Batch of German Soldiers Fly to Afghanistan Soon

A reconnaissance team of the international security force to be deployed in Afghanistan will fly to Kabul early Monday morning, a Bundeswehr (German Defense Force) spokesman said on Saturday.

A reconnaissance team of the international security force to be deployed in Afghanistan will fly to Kabul early Monday morning, a Bundeswehr (German Defense Force) spokesman said on Saturday.

The group contains five German officers, who serve as the vanguard for the 1,200 soldiers that Germany has offered for the multi-national force, the spokesman, Karl-Henning Kroeger, told local media.

The reconnaissance team will take over around 0200 GMT aboard an airbus plane belonging to the Bundeswehr from a military base outside London, he said.

Kroeger also said that according to the current planning, Germany is sending 770 soldiers to Afghanistan, instead of 1,200, due to "bottle-necking at the airport" of Kabul. But the plan can be changed if situation improves, he said.

The U.S. military forces, which is now in control of the Kabul airport, has reportedly restricted the use of the airport for fear of possible attacks from the Taliban remnants.

The U.N.-mandated International Security Assistance Force consists of 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers from several countries including Britain and Germany. They provide security for the newly- established transitional government in Kabul.