Korea has narrowed down the number of civilian aid workers to be sent to Afghanistan to less than 100, while the troop number will be set at slightly above 300, a senior Foreign Ministry official said yesterday.

"The number of civilian workers of the Provincial Reconstruction Team will be set at 75, while the troops who will be dispatched to protect these workers will be set at just above 300," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Out of the 75, about 20 will be sent to stay at Bagram Air Base which is operated by the United States. The remainder will be dispatched to the district of Charikar, an area in the province of Parwan where Korea is likely to set up a camp due to its proximity to the capital city Kabul. Parwan is also considered as a relatively secure part of Afghanistan.

The 24 Koreans of the existing PRT are currently residing at Bagram base. Korea is now expected to establish an independent military base to house its civilians and troops.



The Foreign Ministry had said earlier it would send up to 130 civilian aid workers and some 350 troops to take part in the NATO-led campaign against insurgents in Afganistan.

Funding was the biggest reason for the reduced number of civilian workers, the Foreign Ministry official said. "We are now trying to fill some of the posts with foreign nationals who would provide cheaper labor."

Equipment is also being minimized; only a single unit of four UH-40 helicopters is expected to be dispatched.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young yesterday said the government has yet to officially announce the details of the dispatch.

The Defense Ministry is currently insisting on the need to send more troops for effective watch, but Cheong Wa Dae is reportedly against the move.

Due to the conflict, the ministries failed to present the finalized number of civilians and troops at a vice ministerial meeting yesterday.

The government now plans to send it directly for Cabinet approval next Tuesday. It hopes to attain National Assembly endorsement by the year`s end.

Korea is currently waiting for NATO to give its dispatch the green light, possibly today when Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon attends a meeting of foreign ministers from the countries participating in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. This multinational force is carrying out the NATO-led campaign to install peace and stability in the Central Asian region after the fall of the Taliban regime.

A rocky road lies ahead for National Assembly approval, although the ruling Grand National Party - composing an overwhelming majority - has agreed with government plans for a two and a half year dispatch starting from July. This is mainly to negate obtaining parliamentary approval every 12 months as in the past.

The United States has recently stepped up its commitment to Afghanistan, pledging to send in 30,000 more troops. However, President Barack Obama also firmly stated that Washington would be out of the area by July 2011.

Korea issued the announcement on its own dispatch in October on criticism that the nation should contribute to global peace and security as according to its global status.

(jemmie@heraldm.com)



By Kim Ji-hyun