BERLIN, 18 August 2003 — Berlin’s aim for an expanded military role for German forces in Afghanistan is running into increasing doubts among politicians and the general public alike, according to reports and a political survey at the weekend.
German Defense Minister Peter Struck needs parliamentary approval for any expansion of the German forces role in Afghanistan, but the Sunday paper Bild am Sonntag cited politicians as raising doubts about this prospect.
At the same time, a survey published by the Welt am Sonntag paper yesterday showed a solid majority of Germans opposed to expanding the role of their forces in Afghanistan outside the capital Kabul.
The paper said the polling organization “Infratest dimap” questioned 1,015 people between Aug. 12 and 14 amid the ongoing debate in Berlin about a possible expansion of German forces’ operations outside the capital Kabul.
The survey found 55 percent opposed to any expansion to 34 percent in favor, Welt am Sonntag reported.
German troops make up a major contingent in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) which operates primarily in Kabul and immediate surrounding areas. Public awareness about the dangers to the troops was heightened after the June 7 suicide car bomb attack on a bus carrying German soldiers to Kabul airport, killing four soldiers.
In Bild am Sonntag, politicians from within the ruling Social Democrat (SPD)-Greens coalition camp as well as from the opposition Christian (CDU CSU) and liberal (FDP) parties raised serious doubts in view of the dangers in the Afghanistan countryside.
Klaus Barthel, an SPD deputy, was among those cited, telling the paper “that from today’s perspective, the conditions for sending in more forces do not exist”.
Among the Greens, the deputy parliamentary floor leader, Christian Stroebele was more specific.
“The security situation has deteriorated in Afghanistan, and all the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) units are increasingly being looked on as a party to war. In this situation I cannot support an expansion,” he said. Wolfgang Schaeuble, head of the CDU in Parliament, accused the Berlin government of failing to provide a “clear perspective” about the German forces’ further role in Afghanistan.
