PARIS – French troops will start handing over security to the Afghan army in March and focus on training until pulling out of Afghanistan completely at the end of 2013, President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday.
Mr Sarkozy said French troops would resume training today after receiving security guarantees from Afghan president Hamid Karzai who was in Paris on a visit. He added that France would send Nato a plan next month proposing the handover of all foreign combat operations in Afghanistan next year.
“President Karzai has assured us that Kapisa province, where the French contingent is based, will pass under Afghan responsibility from March,” Mr Sarkozy said after talks with the Afghan leader. Mr Sarkozy said the Kapisa withdrawal would enable France to bring back an extra 1,000 of its 3,600 troops this year. – (Reuters)