French army chief visits Afghanistan

Published October 30, 2003

KABUL, Oct 29: The French armed forces chief of staff, General Henri Bentegeat, arrived here on Wednesday for an official two-day visit to Afghanistan, a French military spokesman said.

“General Bentegeat has come to visit French troops in ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and officers training the new Afghan army,” Lieutenant-Colonel Philippe Maurin, spokesman for the French military contingent in Afghanistan, told AFP.

“He will meet political authorities as well as Afghan military figures,” Col Maurin said.

General Bentegeat will hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former King Zahir Shah, Defence Minister Mohammad Qasim Fahim and the commander of the new Afghan National Army, General Bismillah Khan.—AFP

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