Armenia to increase troops in Afghanistan

Armenia will increase the number of its peacekeeping forces in
Afghanistan from 40 to 45 people, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan told parliament on Thursday, News Armenia reports.

Armenian forces in Afghanistan are supervised by Germany in the
province of Kunduz as part of the International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF). The Armenian forces consist of an infantry platoon, a
medical officer and three staff officers. They secure the airport in
Kunduz.

The minister said that Armenia will cover all the expenses of its
peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan. The instructors will operate at
the North Regional Command. There are some 600 instructors operating.

Ohanyan noted that the situation in Afghanistan remains complicated.
NATO plans to withdraw its forces in 2014 after strengthening the
positions of local structures and military structures, expansion of
civil services, improvement of the administration mechanism, coping
with corruption.

Armenia has been participating in the peacekeeping operations as part
of ISAF since early 2010.