Armenia will increase the number of its peacekeeping troops in Afghanistan from 45 to 130, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Oganyan said at the parliament, News Armenia reports.
NATO and the Armenian Defense Ministry signed agreements on realization of the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan on March 26 and April 4, 2011.
There will be 260 troops during the switch.
Armenian forces will remain in Afghanistan until December 31, 2012. Germany will be responsible for technical support, Armenia for wages.
Armen Rustamyan, head of the parliamentary commission for foreign affairs, said that the deal allows Armenia to be more active in international programs, improve its authority in peacekeeping operations and increase its troop numbers.
Georgia sent 924 peacekeepers to Afghanistan, Azerbaijan sent 94. The Armenian forces are supervised by Germany in Kunduz Province as part of the Northern Regional Command of the ISAF. It consists of an infantry platoon, a medic and staff officers.
Armenia signed a deal on sending its peacekeepers in October 2009.
