German Defence Minister Peter Struck reaffirmed Thursday Berlin's military commitment in Afghanistan, saying the country will stay there even if other NATO members decide not to become involved. In a debate in parliament over the role of German military forces in international missions, Struck praised the work which German soldiers were performing in Afghanistan, citing the construction of schools and protecting civilians in the Hindukush region. Even if other NATO members renege on pledges to become engaged in Afghanistan, German forces will be staying, Struck said. "If the others don't come, it doesn't mean that we will be returning home," he told parliament. The debate comes a day after the Social Democrat-Greens cabinet agreed to seek a one-year extension of the mandate for German forces in Afghanistan. The current mandate expires October 13. Germany currently has 1,550 troops in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, 270 in Kunduz and 300 in the neighbouring country Uzbekistan. The total of 2,130 is short of the current parliamentary mandate for up to 2,250 soldiers. Parliamentary debate on Thursday was to be a general overview of German participation in international peacekeeping missions, and comes after Struck's own admission on Wednesday of mistakes made by German forces in Kosovo during riots there last March. --mor 1344 Local Time 1044 GMT
