Spain sets five-year target for Afghan withdrawal
MADRID. September 10. KAZINFORM. Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon said on Wednesday that she hoped the country would be able to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan within five years; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
The remarks followed Spain's recent announcement that it would send another 220 soldiers to the Central Asian country to help in the continued struggle against the Taliban.
The reinforcement will be ratified by the Spanish parliament on Friday despite criticism from the opposition Popular Party.
Speaking on Cadena Ser radio, Chacon also tried to put a time limit on the deployment. "We need to fix times and a horizon to say that we will have achieved our objective in less than five years."
"They will be involved in the establishment of stability, development and reconstruction of the country. We want the next elections in the country to be set up by Afghans themselves," she said, before making reference to accusations of fraud hanging over the Aug. 20 Afghan presidential elections; Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version.