PARIS, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- France on Wednesday retreated from its firm stand against sending more troops to Afghanistan and said it would now reconsider, following a renewed request from U.S. President Barack Obama.
Obama on Tuesday outlined his new strategy for resolving the protracted Afghan conflict, including the sending of 30,000 more U.S. troops, and called for NATO allies to also contribute extra manpower.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed Obama's speech as "courageous, determined and lucid" and pledged "full support" to it in a statement Wednesday, but didn't make any immediate promises.
Without an utter rejection, Sarkozy insisted the issue of additional troops needed further discussion with Britain, Germany and other concerned European countries during a conference on Afghanistan on Jan. 28 in London.
Sarkozy would also take into consideration discussions on the Afghan issue slated for Thursday's meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, the statement said.
French media reported that Obama was seeking 1,500 extra French troops for Afghanistan, expanding the 3,750 already there.
In line with his former insistence on no more troops for Afghanistan, Sarkozy underlined the French priority would be given to training Afghan troops as answer to Obama.
However, French daily newspaper Le Monde said, "We are not saying no to Obama," adding that "there are many ways of helping: gendarmes, equipment, civilian work".
Recently, the French administration has repeatedly said France's essential mission was to train the Afghan security forces as they were "the most effective factor to win the war."
According to the Le Monde report, Obama had also asked Germany to contribute 2000, Italy to send 1500 and Britain to move in 1,000 as extra combat troops to Afghanistan.
Brown confirms Britain to deploy extra 500 troops to Afghanistan
LONDON, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced on Monday that Britain will deploy extra 500 troops to Afghanistan in a statement to the House of Commons.
Last month, Brown agreed "in principle" to increase British troops in Afghanistan to 9,500 so long as troops are fully equipped for their tasks; the Afghan government is in place, ready to provide more troops for training and all coalition partners bear their fair share of burden. Full story
Sarkozy voices full support to Obama on Afghanistan
PARIS, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy voiced his "full support" on Wednesday for U.S. President Barack Obama's new decision on Afghanistan but stopped short of committing more French troops.
The Elysee Palace said Obama's "courageous, determined and lucid discourse" can "give a new impetus to the international undertaking and open a new perspective." Full story
Hatoyama: Japan not to provide further aid for Afghanistan
TOKYO, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Wednesday welcomed a U.S. pledge to provide additional troops to the country but said that his nation will not provide extra aid to Afghanistan.
Hatoyama claimed that the long-term goal of the U.S. president is to help stabilize Afghanistan through international aid, and not through military interventions. "I believe that this is one of the president's aims," he said. Full story
Taliban downplays Obama's strategy, vows to continue war
KABUL, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants fighting Afghan government and NATO-led troops based in Afghanistan in a sharp reaction downplayed the new strategy announced by President Obama for Afghanistan on Wednesday.
"The Mujahidin (holy warriors) of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (name of ousted Taliban regime) would continue resistance against U.S. and its national and international allies," the outfit said in a statement released to media from undisclosed location. Full story
Pakistan to closely engage with U.S. on new Afghan strategy
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Wednesday said it would closely engage with the United States in understanding the full import of its new strategy on Afghanistan and to ensure that there would be no adverse fallout on Pakistan.
"There is certainly a need for clarity and coordination on all aspects of the implementation of this strategy," the Foreign Office of Pakistan said in a statement issued here. Full story
