French troops in final preparations to leave Afghanistan
- 12 years ago
Here in Afghanistan's Kapisa Province, French troops are preparing to leave.
They're set to pull out on Wednesday.
The province, once under French control, will be left in the hands of Afghan troops.
French President François Hollande promised the troop pullout to voters during his election campaign earlier this year -- and their withdrawal is right on schedule.
But on the streets of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, some say it's too soon for the French to leave.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) KABUL RESIDENT ABDUL QAYUM NORISTANI SAYING:
"It is too early for the pullout. Our Afghan security forces are not as equipped as they need to be so they are not able to take the security control of the country and to defend the sovereignty of Afghanistan."
But most said that despite security concerns, the handover to Afghans is a positive step.
Most NATO combat forces are expected to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
They're set to pull out on Wednesday.
The province, once under French control, will be left in the hands of Afghan troops.
French President François Hollande promised the troop pullout to voters during his election campaign earlier this year -- and their withdrawal is right on schedule.
But on the streets of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, some say it's too soon for the French to leave.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) KABUL RESIDENT ABDUL QAYUM NORISTANI SAYING:
"It is too early for the pullout. Our Afghan security forces are not as equipped as they need to be so they are not able to take the security control of the country and to defend the sovereignty of Afghanistan."
But most said that despite security concerns, the handover to Afghans is a positive step.
Most NATO combat forces are expected to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.