French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday that France would assume its responsibilities in Afghanistan.
"A military withdrawal would be followed by the return of Taliban and al Qaeda, and without doubt the destabilization of neighboring Pakistan. It is not conceivable," said Sarkozy in a speech before the annual conference of ambassadors in Paris.
"France, a permanent member of the Security Council, will should assume its responsibilities," he added.
Earlier this month, 10 French soldiers were killed and 21 others injured when their patrol was ambushed by Taliban militants in a mountainous region about 50 km east of Kabul, the Afghan capital.
At a state funeral in Paris for the dead soldiers, Sarkozy vowed to continue the fight in Afghanistan. "We cannot let the barbarians triumph," he said.
The French National Assembly will debate and vote in September on the extension of the French military presence in Afghanistan.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article