Agence France-Presse, Spain has begun negotiations to finance the creation of a new Afghan army unit for the northwestern province of Badghis in the war-torn country, a report said August 12.
Spanish troops are currently deployed in the province as part of the NATO-led International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF), but Badghis does not have a permanent Afghan army unit, Spain’s El Pais newspaper said.
Spain’s defense minister is currently negotiating with Kabul on a “technical agreement” for the unit, which would be “under Spanish protection”, the newspaper said.
All costs, including barracks construction and the purchase of vehicles and uniforms, would be financed by Spain, with the amount possibly reaching as much as 20 million euros (27 million dollars), according to El Pais.
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Afghan army recruits stand at attention at the Afghan National Army base outside Kabul, Afghanistan Thursday, March 16. (©AP/WWP)
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The recruitment of soldiers and management of the barracks would be handled by Afghan authorities, and the unit would first include 150 soldiers before growing to as many as 700. Training could begin in the fall.
Taliban militants ambushed an Afghan and NATO army convoy in Badghis on Friday, sparking a gunfight that killed seven Afghan soldiers and 20 militants, the defense ministry said.
The area had been relatively peaceful compared to the south and east of the nation, flashpoints in the Taliban insurgency that has gained pace since it was launched soon after the Islamist movement lost the government in 2001.
But attacks have increased in the province this year, with security seen to have deteriorated nationwide.
Spain has about 700 troops in western Afghanistan.
NATO has led the ISAF, with contingents from 37 countries totaling around 39,000 men, since 2003.
