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01/04/2010

The visits made by Stanley McChrystal as 2009 changed to 2010 were primarily of a symbolic nature. The US general, head of all NATO soldiers in Afghanistan, flew by helicopter to all corners of the country to thank his troops -- particularly in those areas where the situation is most precarious.

But this year, his trip didn't just lead him to those regions in the south and east which have long been instable. The four-star general spent an entire day in Kunduz, the German-controlled region in northern Afghanistan, once known for its relative stability but now descending ever further into violence. The visit made it clear once again that McChrystal is keeping close tabs on developments there.

Indeed, McChrystal's concern has crystallized into concrete orders. According to information obtained by SPIEGEL ONLINE, the US army is to station 2,500 additional troops in Kunduz and the rest of the North as soon as possible:

• 1,000 additional trainers for the Afghan police force and the Afghan army are to be sent to the second-largest German base in Kunduz by the summer of 2010.

• In addition, 1,500 US troops are to head north to protect the US base and to conduct joint anti-Taliban operations with Afghan units.

McChrystal's office at the headquarters of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed the plan following a SPIEGEL ONLINE inquiry. The additional troops are to boost both training and security in the region.

A Massive US Build-Up

Already, the US military has built up a sizeable camp near the Kunduz airport in recent months at which up to 4,000 Afghan troops can be trained simultaneously. The camp is up to four times as large as the German base not far away, according to German estimates.

The massive US build-up, ordered by US President Barack Obama late last year -- well before the Afghanistan Conference to be held in London at the end of this month -- places significant pressure on both Berlin and on the German armed forces. Three weeks ago, the new German regional commander, Brigadier General Frank Leidenberger, admitted that the Germans could soon be in the minority in Kunduz.

For years, Germany has headed up NATO efforts in Regional Command North. The Bundeswehr, as Germany's armed forces are called, maintain two large bases in the region at Kunduz and Mazar-e-Sharif with a smaller base in Faizabad. In total, Germany has some 4,300 soldiers in Afghanistan, with 1,100 of them stationed in Kunduz. The Bundeswehr's parliamentary mandate allows for 4,500 German troops to be stationed in Afghanistan. A number of smaller contingents, from Norway, Sweden and Hungary among others, are likewise stationed in the region.

German efforts to train Afghan security forces now look rather modest against the US plans for 2010 and beyond. Currently, the Bundeswehr trains Afghan troops using several teams of trainers -- the US, for its part, wants to integrate fighting units into the Afghan army as soon as possible and train them at the front.

US Troops Would Likely Pursue Insurgents

There is little doubt that the US presence in Kunduz will significantly influence German operations there. The Bundeswehr expects that the US troops, in addition to their training activities, will energetically pursue the Taliban and al-Qaida extremists in the region.

Following numerous attacks on NATO supply lines through the north of Afghanistan, the region is seen to be more strategically important than ever. ISAF head McChrystal has said as much numerous times and demanded a robust engagement of the Taliban in the region. In 2009, he made numerous trips to Kunduz for strategic talks.

The additional soldiers now to be sent to the region will now make it possible to increase the pressure on the Taliban in Kunduz. Already, US special forces with Task Force 373 are sent out on operations on a nightly basis. In addition to taking suspected Taliban extremists prisoner, they have many times been responsible for eliminating wanted Taliban leaders.

Their activities have resulted in at least one civilian death -- a shepherd who was mistakenly targeted. As recently as this weekend, the unit killed 19 Taliban fighters in a joint operation with Afghan forces -- after the US troops stumbled into an ambush. Four regional Taliban commanders are said to have been among the victims.

US Special Forces in Afghanistan are likewise under McChrystal's command. In November, it became clear just how the units envision an effective fight against the Taliban. In an operation lasting several days, as many as 133 Taliban fighters were killed.

The Germans refused to take part in the operation, arguing that it was tantamount to targeted killings. Despite numerous reports of dead civilians, NATO never conducted an official investigation. German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg nevertheless praised the US operation.

Will Germany Be Diminished to Supporting Role?

The approaching increase in US troops for Kunduz has likewise been welcomed in the Defense Ministry in Berlin, primarily because it increases the security of German troops in the region. Away from the public eye, the Bundeswehr has for weeks been working on improving communication with US troops to receive timely and detailed information about US operations in German-controlled territory. During the offensive in November, the Bundeswehr received very little information.

The US decision to boost its presence in northern Afghanistan seems likely to intensify the debate in Germany about sending more troops. Internally, the government in Berlin has already decided to increase German troop numbers by up to 2,000 soldiers, but German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle -- head of Chancellor Angela Merkel's junior coalition party the Free Democrats -- has said he will oppose the measure.

An additional 2,500 US troops in the German-controlled areas in northern Afghanistan will also present the question to politicians back in Berlin as to whether they want to allow the US to take over control of the region. German commanders in Afghanistan are already concerned that they will, in the near future, play little more than a supporting role in the region.