Germany will not join Afghan offensive

BERLIN, June 15 (Reuters) German troops stationed in Afghanistan will not take part in a US-led offensive against the Taliban in their southern heartland for now, Germany's defence minister said today.

Speaking on ARD television, Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung said that German forces, currently concentrated in the north of the country, would remain focused on their redevelopment activities there.

''The German government will be involved in this operation,'' Jung said. ''We have taken over responsibility for five redevelopment teams in the north.'' ''Unfortunately we have found that terror attacks are still taking place there and therefore it is necessary to prepare our soldiers for these extraordinary situations.'' Jung noted that German troops are currently only involved in redevelopment and stabilisation, rather than the fight against terrorism.

While it was possible that German soldiers become involved in anti-terrorism activities if a wave of unrest spreads, no such role was being considered at the moment, Jung said.

''At the moment it is not the case and it is also not in sight,'' he said.

Germany has around 2,700 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led ISAF force, which is being increased to 15,000 from the current 9,000. There is a separate contingent of US-led coalition forces numbering around 23,000.

Afghanistan has recently seen its bloodiest period since coalition troops overthrew the Taliban government in 2001 for refusing to hand over al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

The Taliban and their Islamist allies are mostly active in the south and the east.

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