Czech Republic increases troop numbers in Afghanistan

Last week, the Czech Ministry of Defence had already announced that the Czech peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan would be increased. In return, the Czech government is now withdrawing troops from Kosovo.

Czech Republic reduces troop numbers in Kosovo

The Czech Republic has decided to withdraw most of its peacekeepers from Kosovo and increase the number of troops in Afghanistan instead. Most of the peacekeepers in Kosovo will be withdrawn over the coming months. Only around 90 soldiers are initially expected to remain in Kosovo, the Czech Ministry of Defence announced in a press release today. The government leadership in Prague had already announced last week that it would add a further 200 peacekeepers to its forces in Afghanistan by early next year. There are currently just over 500 Czech peacekeepers deployed in the Hindu Kush. Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra told the press last Friday that nearly 200 additional soldiers would be sent to Afghanistan. This will bring the number of Czech peacekeepers in Afghanistan to 730. The new deployment plan still has to be approved by the parliament in Prague. As a “countermeasure,” Vondra is significantly reducing the number of Czech troops in Kosovo.

International opinions divided over increase in troop numbers

International opinion on this approach is divided: while the withdrawal of troops from Kosovo is being praised in many quarters as timely, critics are denouncing the increase in troop numbers in Afghanistan as an ill-advised measure given NATO's planned withdrawal from Afghanistan. Instead of gradually withdrawing its troops, the Czech Republic is now increasing the number of its soldiers in the Hindu Kush.