Bulgaria to withdraw part of Afghan contingent
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 16 January 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Bulgaria to withdraw part of Afghan contingent, 16 January 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/512235712.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 16, 2013
The Bulgarian government says it will pull a significant part of its troop contingent out of Afghanistan.
Bulgarian troops stationed at Kabul airport will be withdrawn on March 1, followed by a team of instructors on March 31.
The decision will mean that Bulgaria will withdraw some 40 percent of its 600-member contingent that is part of the International Security Assistance Force by the end of March.
According to a government press release, the remainder of the Bulgarian contingent will stay in Afghanistan until 2014, when the majority of NATO-led forces leave.
After 2014, Bulgaria will only have a team of advisers in the country.
Bulgaria, which joined NATO in 2004, has been participating in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan since 2002.
Based on reporting by Xinhua and dpa
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
