French withdrawal from Afghanistan, the "details" of F. Hollande: still a little vague

(BRUSSELS2 to Chicago) The withdrawal of French combat forces from Afghanistan before the end of 2012 was at the center of certain debates on the sidelines of the NATO meeting. " During a discussion with (President) Obama, I have explained - detailed François Hollande during a press conference (Sunday) -, that this " commitment made to the French "was" non-negotiable ". This is apparent "from French sovereignty. And everyone understood it ". And to add: NATO Secretary General (with whom F. Hollande had spoken just before), himself, considered that it was our choice and that it did not call into question the operation itself, since certain confirmations were made ».

Withdrawal of forces in Kapisa by the end of 2012

So much for the principle. François Hollande then provided some details on the withdrawal device. This will concern combat troops (*) (which) will be withdrawn by the end of the year. There will, however, remain troops. Which ones, how many? By small touches, François Hollande clarified. The withdrawal will concern (only) the forces “ fighters located in Kapisa ». "The Afghan army will replace our troops in Kapisa in the coming months and by the end of 2012 »

After 2013, a timetable to be specified

« In 2013, only trainers will remain for the police forces and Afghan army executives. This will be done as part of the ISAF operation itself. Then he clarified, answering another question: “ There will be a withdrawal of other units in a schedule that I cannot specify. (Corn) nothing should be done to threaten the safety of our personnel. (Meat then we will have material to remove. And that will take time, beyond 2012. This means having staff to ensure its proper execution. In fact, according to the information circulating, various troops should remain on the spot: those in charge of training and logistics in particular, accompanied by protection forces as well, and probably also the hospital in Kabul. That is several hundred men, almost a thousand. The only question: air resources after 2012 and especially after 2014.

A residual anti-terrorist mission?

We know that these means were made available in the past to the ISAF as well as to certain anti-terrorist tracking missions (field of the former Enduring Freedom mission). I put the question to François Hollande and the Minister of Defence, Le Drian. These confessed not know » this subject, or rather, they kicked into touch... Anti-terrorist teams, aerial or not, could thus remain, or return to Afghanistan, after 2013. In a rather vague way, François Hollande confirmed it, indicating : “ I made sure that there are actions that remain within the framework of IFAS”. As a NATO diplomat told me earlier, " There will undoubtedly be another coalition mission, separate from ISAF, to carry out counter-terrorist operations thus succeeding Enduring Freedom.

After 2014, cooperation with the Afghans will continue

François Hollande also affirmed that the treaty signed by Nicolas Sarkozy with Afghanistan will be respected. " This treaty provides for cooperation that goes well beyond 2014. We will be among our allies within the framework of the obligations we have given ourselves: health, training, education, strengthening the Afghan administration. And it will be in this perspective that we will work. »

(*) The term "combatant forces" is widely debated. On this point, François Hollande has not changed one iota. He already mentioned it during his speech "Defense" during the electoral campaign in Paris in March. Some media have apparently just discovered the meaning of the adjective...

Read also:

• For the Americans, the withdrawal from Afghanistan is a national decision but…
• In Chicago, defining a new mission in Afghanistan after 2014
• No accelerated withdrawal for the British unless…
• Holland: a Gaullist position on defense… and a few darts to Sarkozy
• Panetta (US) confirms it: we're off in 2013