Afghanistan: Italian foreign minister rejects call for extra troops


Islamabad, 20 Oct. (AKI) - On a visit to Pakistan, Italian Foreign Minister,Franco Frattini, announced no extra troops would be sent to war-torn Afghanistan."I do not think sending more troops is the right solution today," Frattini told the media on Monday, while en route to Pakistan. Frattini arrived in the country's capital, Islamabad, for talks on bilateral ties and regional issues with his counterpart, Makhdoom Qureshi.

Frattini's visit is his first official to Pakistan and he is due to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, and Pakistan's army chief of staff.

Frattini said that Italy had recently made "a further effort sending four Tornado aircrafts to reinforce defence" and that "the troops that are present make Italy the fourth (largest) contingent in Afghanistan controlling a strategic province that the Taliban want to make, or make seem, less secure."

The Italian Tornado aircraft will carry out surveillance flights over the country's troublespots.

"Italy's strategy is right because it does not respond (to aggression) with raids, instead, continues to cooperate with the people," he said.

Frattini said Italy has set an example by using a combination of cooperation and peacekeeping, winning the sympathy and admiration of the people, an Italian model the other should follow.

Frattini also rejected the idea of dialogue with the Taliban.

"If the Taliban is legitimised, we will be making a mistake. The Taliban do not have any interest in supporting (Afghan President) Karzai and the coalition forces. Therefore there should not be negotiations that will make them legitimate actors," concluded Frattini.

Italy currently has about 2,350 troops taking part in the NATO-led international force in Afghanistan.

The Italian troops are stationed between the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the western province of Herat.

There are almost 53,000 troops in Afghanistan from around 40 countries that make up NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Last month, Frattini said Italy was planning to organise an international conference to look at ways of stabilising Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Frattini said Italy would stage the conference in 2009, when it holds the presidency of the G8 group of the world's leading industrialised nations and Russia.


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