Paris seeks NATO discussion on hand-over of combat missions to Afghans

France intends to opens discussions with NATO about the potential hand-over of French combat missions to the Afghan army before the end of 2013 to facilitate a premature withdrawal by French forces from Afghanistan, Cabinet sources indicated Wednesday. The Afghan issue was discussed in the regular Cabinet session chaired by President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday morning in light of the visit here last week by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the killing a week earlier of four French soldiers by an renegade soldier. Sarkozy announced after that attack that in view of the lack of security for French soldiers training the Afghan army, he would consider an "anticipated" withdrawal from Afghanistan. France has already been drawing down its 4,000-man contingent in that conflict and has pulled about 400 troops out as of this time, Defence sources said. The remainder were due to leave before the end of 2014 along with all foreign forces but they are now being withdrawn a year earlier at the end of 2013 on orders from Sarkozy. The Cabinet was informed that France will "soon" begin handing over security responsibility to the Afghan army in the deadly Kapisa valley were a number of the 82 French soldier killed in Afghanistan lost their lives. "The handover must be progressive and organised properly to ensure a smooth transition and NATO will have to be involved," a Defence official told KUNA. "We already were preparing for a handover in the Kapisa Valley zone so that is not the challenge. But there are other security responsibilities that will have to be met," he added. "We cannot leave the ANA (Afghan National Army) without some form of back-up," the official cautioned. Sarkozy and his ministers also agreed to "adapt the rhythm of withdrawal" of French soldiers, which will mean the exit of French troops will be speeded up in 2012. Those remaining are to be provided with better security against the type of renegade attacks that have killed six French soldiers in less than three months and wounded 15, eight of them seriously, the Cabinet was told. The end-2013, full withdrawal was confirmed by Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers in a communication to the Cabinet Wednesday "and it was decided to propose to NATO the opening up of a refection that the Afghan army take over combat mission before the end of 2013." French forces have been deployed in Afghanistan since 2001 in both a combat and a training role.