Angela Merkel visits Afghanistan

18/12/10 18:13 CET

world news

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan.

She met Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Mazar el-Sharif. He described their discussions as “good and constructive.”

Earlier Merkel had been in Kunduz to rally the troops staying in Afghanistan over the festive season.

It was a visit tinged with sadness. A 21-year-old soldier died yesterday, bringing the total number of troops Germany has lost in Afghanistan to 45.

Merkel praised the troops who she said are involved in a real conflict involving real fighting. She had spoken to several soldiers for whom this was a completely new experience.

With nearly 4,700 forces based in the north, Germany is the third largest troop contributor to the NATO operation in Afghanistan.

But involvement in the conflict is unpopular back home, with the opposition urging Merkel’s government to stick to its commitment to begin withdrawal at the end of 2011.

More about: Afghanistan, Angela Merkel, Germany, Hamid Karzai

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