September 5, 2002	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Saani26,1423

PARIS, Sept 4: French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, in Afghanistan for an official visit on Tuesday told Afghan President Hamid Karzai that France, as well as the European Union, is resolutely opposed to any redeployment outside of Kabul of the multinational ISAF defence force.

President Karzai has long insisted to France that he felt it urgent that the ISAF see its size increased to 35,000 troops and be redeployed outside of Kabul.

He said “the international community cannot substitute itself for the Afghans themselves to reestablish security throughout all of Afghanistan.” Mr de Villepin went on to promise that France was ready to provide Afghanistan with “durable” assistance on security situation.