Italy intends to withdraw its contingent from Afghanistan

Baku. 30 January. REPORT.AZ/ Italian Defense Minister Elisabetta Trenta announced her intention to withdraw the Italian contingent from Afghanistan, Report informs citing the RIA Novosti.

Trenta has announced that some 900 soldiers had been in the area for 17 years as part of the NATO-led mission: “We spent 7 billion euros, our contribution was tangible, but now the situation is developing, the parties are close to a consensus, and I hope we’ve reached it, and we, as a country, have this in mind."

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said earlier: “The current presence of foreign forces is based on need, and this need has always been contemplated and will be contemplated...; and according to an exact and arranged plan, we are trying to bring down that number to zero."