Troops pullout from Afghanistan likely to begin in 2012: German MP says...

The repatriation process of German combat forces fighting in Afghanistan is likely to start at the beginning of 2012 and the withdrawal will be completed in 2014. This was stated by Mrs Elke Hoff, Member of the German Parliament in a media briefing on Tuesday. Mrs Hoff is also a spokesperson for her Free Democratic Party (FDP) in the Defence Committee of the German Parliament.
She said Germany is not increasing the 35,000 combat troops in Afghanistan. "We will love to withdraw troops till 2014 as per agreement with other Nato member countries. Hopefully, we will be able to withdraw combat forces at the beginning of 2012 depending on the situation," she said. Germany has been doing annual reviews regularly, she added.
Responding to a question, Mrs Elke replied that people in Germany are really tired of this conflict. "What we are trying to find out is political solution and I am a great supporter of process similar to Europe which brought all the countries together to find ways how to resolve their disputes without military and militancy," she said.
To a question related to defence aid to Pakistan military, she said Germany has very restrictive policy concerning procurement of military equipment and their delivery in conflicts zones. Even Afghan government does not get military equipment from Germany. Germany has been involved more on political side as honest broker during Afghanistan conflict, she said.
To a question, Elke said, "We will support a proper negotiation but Afghan must play main role because it is their country, their nation and they have to find a way to get out of the mess". United States is more effective in Afghanistan as a very powerful and strong player in the region with lot of money and resources. Germany has been engaged in establishing a stable Afghan Forces which is a great challenge", she added.
She said that Afghan government led by President Karzai just started working on agenda of Afghan conflict political solution, adding," We should be more patience and let the Afghan do in a way they think right". She strongly recommended that western countries should not do much interference in Afghanistan for a solution.
Talking about her meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Kayani, the German Parliamentarian said that she has an impression if International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and Pak Army have consensus on the ways how to handle situation in North Waziristan, which is a logistic nightmare.
She claimed that intelligence reports of Nato conceded that 'Haqqani Network' has been operating in North Waziristan which has been getting strength and making problems in the South and East of Afghanistan. Appreciating the sacrifices made by people and armed forces of Pakistan against insurgency, she said international community recognises and would remember these sacrifices.