By IRNA,
Berlin : The year 2009 will be key to stabilizing the security situation in Afghanistan amid the ongoing military escalations in the war-stricken country, German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung told Tuesday’s edition of the daily Bild newspaper.
“I don’t believe the situation will ease off (in Afghanistan).
Normally the situation has always calmed down during the winter months – but not this time. This makes us think,” he said.
The coming year will be key to Afghanistan and for the mission of German soldiers there, Jung added.
The minister stressed the upcoming Afghan presidential elections posed a major challenge for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
“We have to assume that the Taliban will take advantage of the situation to prevent fair election proceedings,” Jung said.
Facing strong public pressure for an early German troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Jung has reiterated his opposition to such a demand, branding it “a severe mistake.”
Most Germans oppose the NATO-led military mission in the war- stricken country.
Germany has also been the scene of mass protests against the Afghanistan war in recent months.
Some 30 German soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since January 2002, according to official statistics.
In October, the German Parliament gave green light to the 14- month extension of the military mission in Afghanistan following a heated debate.
The lawmakers agreed also to increase the number of German ISAF soldiers from 3,500 to 4,500 soldiers.
The overall cost for extending the German military operation in Afghanistan is expected to hover around 688 million euros.
Germany is the third largest troop provider after the US and Britain in the 53,000-strong ISAF.
Berlin has deployed around 3,500 soldiers in northern Afghanistan and Kabul, in addition to having police instructors and civilian reconstruction workers in war-ravaged country.