By IRNA,
Berlin : German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung on Sunday called for a new NATO strategy in Afghanistan.
“The present concept of the alliance dates back to 1999,” Jung said in remarks to the 45th Munich Security Conference.
He urged for stepped up efforts in the civilian reconstruction of the war-stricken country.
Only military means will not be sufficient to pacify the situation in Afghanistan, the minister added.
The upcoming NATO Summit, co-hosted by Germany and France in early April, is expected to devise a new strategy for Afghanistan.
NATO has currently deployed around 55,000 troops in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
ISAF is by far NATO’s largest mission, and is seen as crucial to the security and long-term credibility of the western military pact.
The ISAF mission was mandated by the United Nations in December 2001, in the wake of the overthrow of the Taliban.
The largest troop contingents come from the US with 23,220 followed by Britain with 8,910 and Germany with 3,500.
American President Barack Obama has announced that he will increase the number of US soldiers in Afghanistan by around 20,000.
However, he has also said he will call on European allies to make a similar commitment.