War Participation Costs In Afghanistan Over 11bn Euros For Germany

Berlin, Dec 29, IRNA -- Germany's participation in Afghanistan war has so far cost taxpayers 11 billion euros, the Duesseldorf-based daily Rheinischen Post newspaper reported Saturday. A total of 8.15 billion euros have been spent up to this day for Germany's participation in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), while nearly three billion euros have been allocated for development aid to that country by Germany. Some 54 German soldiers have reportedly been killed in Afghanistan since the start of the highly controversial western war in that country in late 2001. Most Germans remain deeply opposed to the military mission in Afghanistan. Depending on the overall Afghan security situation, Berlin hopes to conclude its withdrawal in Afghanistan by late 2014, but the country however plans to keep hundreds of troops in Afghanistan as military trainers and advisers after the pullout; a decision that the Pentagon, too, has probably taken for the US troops there after the pullout./end