German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas arrived in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan on Sunday to send a message confirming Germany’s commitment to conflict resolution and economic development.
“With the trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan, we want to send a clear message: Germany is committed to the responsibility which we have assumed as the second largest donor and contributor of troops in Afghanistan,” said Maas.
Germany is part of the NATO Resolute Support mission to train Afghan security forces and has a force of about 1,200 soldiers stationed there.
The German government had decided last month to extend the military mission and it offered to host a peace conference, to include participation by the Taliban.
