Germany proposes Afghan security plan
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Afghan women in traditional burqas shop in a Kabul market Monday.
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UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Germany is proposing expanding international troops in Afghanistan beyond Kabul, creating interconnected islands of security outside the capital, where relative stability is rapidly eroding.
Germany's Ambassador to the United Nations Gunter Pleuger said Monday that the idea is to establish havens of security that would be composed of roughly 250 to 400 troops with mobile units to connect them.
In addition to providing security for the ongoing civilian reconstruction work, these troops would also provide security for nationwide elections expected to be held no later than June 10, 2004.
Currently, the International Security Assistance Force has 5,000 troops based in Kabul under NATO command. A U.N. mandate, expected to be renewed in December, limits the mission to the Afghan capital and surrounding areas.
A German diplomat said Germany has not encountered opposition to its proposal. "We've had positive words of welcome from several (countries), including the U.S," he said.
"We do support the expansion of ISAF," said one U.S. official, "There shouldn't be a problem with it."
The Bush administration has requested Congress approve an $87 billion plan for Iraq and the war on terrorism, including $11 billion for military operations in Afghanistan and $800 million for its reconstruction.
Both Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.N. envoy to Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, have long argued for the expansion of troops beyond Kabul to stem the deteriorating security situation in the rest of the country.
A German official said the expansion would provide protection in strategically important cities and locations such as Mazar-e Sharif, Kandahar and Herat so that humanitarian and reconstruction work could continue. Germany would send its troops to create a refuge of security in Kunduz, a city in northern Afghanistan, the official said.
Pleuger said discussions are ongoing with NATO and a resolution should be ready to present in the Security Council in October.
Members of the U.N. Security Council are expected to travel to Afghanistan and cities beyond Kabul with the German ambassador in late October.
