News
The article is more than 16 years old

Finland Sending Additional Peacekeepers to Afghanistan

Government ministers agreed on Friday to send around 100 additional peacekeepers to Afghanistan to monitor upcoming presidential elections in the country.

Suomalaisia rauhanturvaajia Afganistanissa
Suomalaisia rauhanturvaajia Afganistanissa Image: YLE

The temporary Finnish peacekeeping force will be stationed in northern Afghanistan. The exact deployment date for the Finnish troops will be set as the election date is finalised. The Afghan elections are expected to be held sometime between June and September.

The Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, Utva, decided on the matter on Friday. The committee highlighted the significance the forthcoming presidential ballot and simultaneously held regional elections will have on the country’s future stability.

At present there are 110 Finnish peacekeepers in the country.

Sources: YLE