- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 410
The Usual Disclaimer:
Report: UAE Could Be First Arab Nation To Send Troops to Afghanistan
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, OTTAWA
The United Arab Emirates is planning to send troops to Afghanistan to fight alongside Canadians, at Ottawa’s behest to put a “Muslim face” on the NATO-led coalition, media reported Friday.
The Toronto Star, citing unnamed sources, said Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government had been urging the tiny Arab nation to contribute soldiers and equipment to help stabilize war-torn Afghanistan.
Canadian authorities were not immediately available to comment.
If the report is accurate, the Afghanistan deployment is believed to be a first for an Arab nation and a diplomatic coup for Canada.
The UAE was one of only three countries that recognized the hard-line Taliban government that took control of most of Afghanistan in 1996 and was forced out in a U.S.-led invasion in late 2001.
The Toronto daily said the UAE tactical force would be small and mostly symbolic and would serve under Canadian commanders in the field.
The UAE could also send four tanks, several armored reconnaissance vehicles, two self-propelled 155mm guns and a detachment of unmanned aerial vehicles, according to a military briefing note obtained by the Star.
“The UAE is capable of bringing considerable financial support to development projects and would provide a Muslim face to the International Security Assistance Force operations, providing a counterpoint to insurgent rhetoric,” the note said.http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2913861&C=landwar
Report: UAE Could Be First Arab Nation To Send Troops to Afghanistan
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, OTTAWA
The United Arab Emirates is planning to send troops to Afghanistan to fight alongside Canadians, at Ottawa’s behest to put a “Muslim face” on the NATO-led coalition, media reported Friday.
The Toronto Star, citing unnamed sources, said Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government had been urging the tiny Arab nation to contribute soldiers and equipment to help stabilize war-torn Afghanistan.
Canadian authorities were not immediately available to comment.
If the report is accurate, the Afghanistan deployment is believed to be a first for an Arab nation and a diplomatic coup for Canada.
The UAE was one of only three countries that recognized the hard-line Taliban government that took control of most of Afghanistan in 1996 and was forced out in a U.S.-led invasion in late 2001.
The Toronto daily said the UAE tactical force would be small and mostly symbolic and would serve under Canadian commanders in the field.
The UAE could also send four tanks, several armored reconnaissance vehicles, two self-propelled 155mm guns and a detachment of unmanned aerial vehicles, according to a military briefing note obtained by the Star.
“The UAE is capable of bringing considerable financial support to development projects and would provide a Muslim face to the International Security Assistance Force operations, providing a counterpoint to insurgent rhetoric,” the note said.http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2913861&C=landwar