By KUNA
Oslo : The Norwegian government is unable to meet the US request for increasing its military participation in Afghanistan.
According to local television on Saturday, this statement was made after the government received a letter from US Defense Secretary Robert Gates in which he asked Norway to increase its contribution in the Afghani war, a request he made to all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Norwegian Minister of Defense Espen Barth Eide said that in the light of his country’s 2008 military strategy, Norway could not make any significant increase to its participation in Afghanistan, noting that NATO members were satisfied with his country’s contribution to combat operations and logistic reinforcement.
Eide said that there were 500 Norwegian troops in Afghanistan at presented and that an additional 150 of the special force would be dispatched in March, noting that they would be stationed in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
He also underscored that the international community should place new policies and strategies for the war in Afghanistan.