Czech Government Approves Increase to Military Presence in Afghanistan

The Czech government today approved a Defense Ministry proposal to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan by almost 200 next year.

Up to 720 service members could be deployed in Afghanistan next year while up to 640 in 2012, though the move still needs parliamentary approval.

The new troops would join as many as 535 Czech soldiers whose deployment as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan had been approved by Parliament.

The government has also approved a gradual withdrawal of Czech troops from Kosovo, leaving only 90 soldiers there until the middle of next year, down from some 550 earlier this year.