Norway not to send more troops to Afghanistan

Norway's government decided Wednesday not to send additional soldiers to boost NATO forces in the south of Afghanistan, although U.S. and NATO want more military aid from Norway, according to report from Oslo. The announcement was made after meetings within the government and with foreign policy MPs from the majority left-center alliance.

The Norwegian government is continuing evaluating the situation and has not yet replied to NATO's request to member nations for more troops to southern Afghanistan.

"It is not going to happen now, but the possibility of sending extra forces later is still open," sources said.

Instead of sending military personnel, the government will offer education and training to the Afghan military and police forces, and contribute with other types of civil assistance.

"We will increase our contribution, but not with military personnel at first," according to sources.

The government bases its current decision on the belief that there is more to be gained from strengthening the civil sector than the military, the report said.

NATO spokesman James Apparthurai told Norwegian news agency NTB that the alliance would continue to press Norway to contribute more to the effort in Afghanistan, even though Norway must be able to decide how its forces would be deployed.

Norway has about 500 troops in Afghanistan.

Source: Xinhua