By NNN-IRNA
Berlin : The head of Germany's co-governing Social Democratic Party (SPD), Kurt Beck is contemplating about a greater engagement of his country in the Afghan military and police training program.
Speaking with the Sunday daily Bild am Sonntag, the SPD chairman said, "Our goal is to stabilize civil society and government and train more intensely Afghan security forces -police as well as military- in a bid to ensure their own security in the medium-term."
"Therefore, we will have to discuss the question whether we have to send more soldiers and police (to Afghanistan)."
Beck expressed also support for calls by Chancellor Angela Merkel to extend the military mandate in Afghanistan.
Berlin has deployed some 3,000 troops in northern Afghanistan as part of the 38,000-strong International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
German public opinion opposes sending more soldiers to the war- stricken country.
Earlier this week, Merkel pledged her country's "long-term" commitment to remain in Afghanistan amid the latest kidnapping wave of German nationals in that country.
The chancellor made clear that German engagement in Afghanistan would be "long-term, important and indispensable".
She stressed the need for a closer interlocking of western civilian reconstruction efforts and the NATO-led military campaign in Afghanistan.
Berlin has repeatedly said that more focus should be placed on rebuilding efforts rather than solely military instruments.
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