German cabinet agrees to send jets to Afghanistan-source

BERLIN, Feb 7 (Reuters) The German cabinet agreed today to send six Tornado reconnaissance jets to Afghanistan, as requested by NATO, a government source said.

About 500 crew and maintenance staff will accompany the jets to Afghanistan where NATO troops are braced for a spring offensive from Islamist Taliban forces.

Germany has about 3,000 troops in Afghanistan, mostly stationed in Kabul and the relatively stable northern part of the country as part of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission.

It has, however, resisted pressure, especially from the United States and Britain, to redeploy its soldiers to the more dangerous south.

Many Germans also have reservations about sending the jets, which Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung has said could be ready to go in April, provided parliament approves the decision.

NATO wants the jets to be used to gather intelligence in less stable parts of Afghanistan.

Germany has been seeking to expand its role in overseas missions in the last decade but many Germans are uncomfortable about the emergence of a strong army in a country still trying to come to terms with its Nazi past.

With more than 4,000 people killed in violence, last year was the bloodiest in Afghanistan since US-led forces toppled the Taliban government in 2001.

After a winter lull, NATO expects the fighting to restart in earnest this spring and wants more soldiers.

REUTERS AB BD1712