NATO Chief Urges Expansion Of Afghan Mission
February 02, 2006
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (file photo) (AFP)
De Hoop Scheffer was in Paris to meet with French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie. He spoke ahead of a crucial debate today in the Dutch parliament over the future of the NATO force in Afghanistan.
A Dutch deployment of up to 1,400 troops in a new NATO mission to Afghanistan has been on hold for months due to political disagreements in the Netherlands.
Denmark's parliament today decided to send 200 more troops to the NATO-led international force in Afghanistan. Denmark currently has 160 soldiers based in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
(compiled from agency reports)