Paris:France would assume its responsibilities in Afghanistan, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said.

"A military withdrawal would be followed by the return of Taliban and Al Qaeda, and without doubt the destabilisation of neighbouring Pakistan. It is not conceivable," the French president said Wednesday.

"France, a permanent member of the Security Council, should assume its responsibilities," he added.

Earlier this month, 10 French soldiers were killed and 21 injured when they were ambushed by Taliban militants in a mountainous region about 50 km east of Kabul, the Afghan capital.

At a state funeral in Paris for the dead soldiers, Sarkozy vowed to continue the fight in Afghanistan. "We cannot let the barbarians triumph," he said.

The French National Assembly will debate and vote in September on the extension of the French military presence in Afghanistan.

 

Source : IANS