BERLIN, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The German government decided to extend its military mission in Afghanistan for another year on Wednesday.

    The current mandate will expire on Dec. 13 and the German parliament will vote for this decision before the expiration. As German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition enjoys a comfortable majority in parliament, the approval will not face big obstacle.

    Germany has deployed more than 4,000 soldiers in the north of Afghanistan, the third largest foreign troops in Afghanistan, following the United States and Britain. This decision was based on Germany's international responsibility. Germany wants to tell its partners that Germany is a reliable partner for peace and security in the world, said German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

    Keeping military troops in Afghanistan was supported by most German political parties, but it has become more and more unpopular with Germans, as more than 30 soldiers have been killed during the mission.

    The German troops will be predominantly stationed in northern Afghanistan, a German government statement said. It means the German government has resisted pressure from the United States in previous years to divert its soldiers to more violent areas in the south of the country, local media reported.

    The German government also wants to build a framework for the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan to become "visible" in the parliament, due to end in 2013. "We don't want Afghanistan to be a mission that lasts for ever and ever," said Westerwelle. "We want a responsible handover in Afghanistan itself."

    "In accordance with this, we want to reach this point during the current parliament where the prospect of a handover becomes visible," Westerwelle said.

    One Wednesday, The German government also extend another two military missions. The mission to fight piracy off the coast of Africa was extended for another year, although the number of troops will be reduced by 100 to 700. And the mission to patrol the Lebanese coastline will be extended until June 2010, and the number of troops is to be reduced from 1,200 to 800.