File photo of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Reuters)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel strongly welcomes President Barack Obama's plans to prolong the US military engagement in Afghanistan, her spokesman said.
Obama announced on Thursday that the United States would maintain a force of 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through most of next year, saying Afghan forces were not as strong as they needed to be to justify a faster pullout.
"She strongly welcomes yesterday's announcement from President Obama on the future US engagement in Afghanistan," spokesman Steffen Seibert told a news conference today.
"This announcement is an important signal to the international community, it is an important signal to the alliance partners of the United States but above all an important signal to the Afghan people."
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