Any new commitment by France to Afghanistan will be in the form of training local security forces and institutions, the French defense minister said Thursday. The comments by Defense Minister Herve Morin came amid reports that the United States has asked France to send an additional 1,500 troops. «If France was to make any additional commitment it will be in the form of training the Afghanistan army, police and the government institutions,» Morin told reporters in Langkawi, where he attended an annual air and naval show. «France will take time to assess the situation in Afghanistan,» he said, adding that France"s contribution will be based on an internation meeting planned for London in January to discuss Afghanistan strategies, according to a report of The Associated Press. --SPA
