Berlin - As NATO allies pledged to increase force levels in Afghanistan, Germany was cautious Thursday, insisting it wanted to wait and see what happens at a conference in London on Afghan policy in January. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he would increase the focus over the next four years on a withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate in Berlin, he said the purpose of the mission was to achieve self-sustaining security in Afghanistan.
"Nobody wants it to last forever," he said.
The Bundestag parliament was set to vote the same day on a one-year rollover of its authorization for 4,500 German troops to serve in Afghanistan. The opposition Social Democrats indicated they would vote alongside the government on the issue.
Germany has shied away from discussion this week of increasing the contingent, despite calls from US President Barack Obama to the allies at large to contribute more soldiers.
