LOC23:14
20:14 GMT
PARIS, Jan 25 (KUNA) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy excluded Monday
sending additional French combat troops to bolster the 3,750 soldiers already
deployed in and around that country but he said he would be willing to do more
to train Afghan police forces.
Speaking on Frances "TFI" television channel, Sarkozy said that he had
made a commitment to parliament some time ago on troop levels and he was going
to try to stick to that.
But he also excluded any withdrawal from Afghanistan as this would lead to
the fall of Pakistan, which he recalled was a nuclear-armed power.
"France will stay in Afghanistan as it is for our security. If the Taliban
triumph in Afghanistan, French people should know that Pakistan will fall,"
the French President said.
"And Pakistan has nuclear weapons and I will not take the responsibility
for that catastrophe," he added.
"Nonetheless, a year and a half ago when I asked our parliament to send 700
extra troops to Afghanistan, I said there would not be any more additional
combat troops. I am trying to scrupulously keep my commitments and my word,"
the President said.
"On the other hand, if we need more training (personnel), or people to
train the police, civil engineers or to help the population or help
Afghanization, why not," he remarked, "but no combat troops".
Sarkozy was speaking during a marathon TV appearance that was mainly aimed
at answering domestic issues and he agreed to take questions from journalists
and later from eleven citizens picked randomly for the program.
Thirty-eight French soldiers have died in Afghanistan since 2002 in what
has become an increasingly unpopular war here. (end)
jk.bs
KUNA 252314 Jan 10NNNN