Bulgaria troops in Afghanistan to guard Kabul airport

Bulgaria announced that it would shift of its troops in Afghanistan to guard the outside of Kabul airport.

Updated on: Aug 19, 2009, 22:55:27 IST

AFP | By HT Correspondent, Sofia

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Bulgaria's government announced on Wednesday that it would shift of its troops in Afghanistan to guard the outside of Kabul airport.

The change, to take place in October, called for the Bulgarian troops currently stationed at two camps east of Kabul -- about 210 in total -- to be moved to guard the security zone around the airport.

"Our company will be tasked with guarding part of the area around the international airport, which is a site of strategic importance as a key entry and departure point in Afghanistan both for NATO forces and the missions of other international organisations," the government said.

Bulgaria currently has a total 470 soldiers in NATO's ISAF force in Afghanistan, including 270 already guarding the airport in the southern city of Kandahar.

Three teams of Bulgarian medical doctors are also working in a Spanish-run hospital at the ISAF base in Herat and in a French military hospital in Kabul.

To date, Bulgaria has not suffered any casualties in Afghanistan.

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