Germany mulling withdrawal from Afghanistan

Germany is mulling over a withdrawal from Afghanistan, amid rising differences of opinion among NATO members over handling the Afghan mission.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called on Sunday for preliminary work to lay down the foundations of a withdrawal from Afghanistan in the country's next four-year parliamentary term.

"In the life of this parliament, we have to get sufficiently far with the concept of self-sustained security that a perspective for withdrawal comes into view," Westerwelle told ZDF television.

"We don't want to remain in Afghanistan forever," the minister added.

The newly appointed foreign minister was referring to a NATO strategy, which says a handover could only be carried out after the Afghans are capable of taking control of their country.

He added that Germany would work to see democracy grow in Afghanistan and introduce effective methods for fighting corruption.

Westerwelle's comments come as Germany prepares to send 120 additional troops to Afghanistan, which will boost the total number of the German contingent to 4,365.

The German parliament has limited participation in the NATO mission to a maximum of 4,500 soldiers.

The German troops are to be assigned to the contingent in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz, which has witnessed an unprecedented surge in militant activity, more than eight years after the US-led invasion of the country.

Germany has the third largest contingent in the NATO-led mission with 4,200 troops.

Most Germans oppose military involvement, which has cost the lives of 36 of their countrymen, according to opinion polls.