Spanish Troops to Start Afghan Withdrawal in January

Spain's Defence Minister, Carme Chacon, said on Tuesday that his nation's troops will start withdrawing from Afghanistan in January 2012.

Spain has about 1,500 troops in Afghanistan, most of them based in western Badghis province. It has lost 32 soldiers in Afghanistan since 2002.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai recently announced that Afghan forces will take responsibility for providing security in Badghis in the second phase of security transition.
The defence minister said that the transfer of authority to Afghanistan agreed by Karzai is good news for Spain.
Chacon confirmed that in January "the withdrawal of Spanish military forces will begin, just as we planned."

Related articles

• Spanish Troops to Start Afghan Withdrawal in January (tolonews.com)
• Spanish troops to start leaving Afghanistan in January (afghanistannews.net)

Posted in: Afghanistan