German defence minister arrives in Balkh

KABUL.

Ursula von der Leyen’s surprise visit comes five day after she took office, with her predecessor Thomas de Maiziere paying a trip to the base less than 10 days ago.

Germany’s last camp in Afghanistan is located in the Balkh capital, where more than 3,800 troops are stationed, the new agency DPA reported.

Her successor had asked urged the Karzai administration not to wait until the April 2014 elections for signing the bilateral security agreement with the United States.

PAN Monitor/mud

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