Czech troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2016: PM

KABUL even after an end to the US military mission there in 2016, a media report said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka hinted at the extended stay of Czech soldiers in the conflict-batted country at a press conference in Prague, according to Xinhua news agency.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, after a meeting with the premier, praised the Czech Republic for having been able to cope with the financial crisis.

The Czech troops have been allowed to serve in Afghanistan until the end of 2016. There were 281 Czech soldiers served in Afghanistan until the beginning of September.

Most of the Czech troops are tasked with guarding the Bagram air base in central Parwan province. The US military is scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan at the end of 2016.

Sobotka hinted at a hike in the Czech military budget to the 47.5 billion crowns next year. The Czech Republic is one of the 10 countries contributing to the international operation in Afghanistan.

PAN Monitor/mud