France to send planes, troops to Afghanistan

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS, NOV. 17. ``Bombs and humanitarian aid'' is how the French daily Liberation opened its report on the President, Mr. Jacques Chirac's announcement that France is to send combat planes, troops and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

French soldiers will guarantee the security of the airport in Mazar-e-Sharif where an air bridge to fly humanitarian aid will be established, Mr. Chirac said in an address to the nation.

``The action against the terrorists of Al-Qaeda will continue until it reaches the heart of the terrorist network and until bin Laden has been neutralised'', he said.

On Friday, two French Transall aircraft with 58 soldiers on board took off for Uzbekistan via Turkey. Most of them belong to the 21st Frejus battalion. American soldiers are expected to arrive in Mazar-e-Sharif over the weekend. Some 300 French soldiers are scheduled to join them for a joint Franco- U.S.-Jordanian operation. The Jordanians will look after health matters while the French and U.S. soldiers will guarantee airport security.

``We would like the planes to land directly in Mazar, without first going to Uzbekistan'', a French officer told the press.

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