Defence Minister in favour of Czech involvement in Afghanistan being extended to 2014

Czech Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra has told the Czech news agency, ČTK, he is in favour of Czech soldiers’ involvement in Afghanistan being extended to 2014. The mandate for their current presence there will expire at the end of 2012. Mr Vondra made the statement before arriving in Washington for talks with US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta. He did not go into details about the strength of the future contingent but allowed that helicopter crews could remain as well as training specialists, while Czech special forces would terminate their mission this year. The US itself wants to withdraw its forces by 2014 if local conditions allow ČTK notes. Currently the Czech Republic has some 600 troops in Afghanistan.