Belgium to exit Afghanistan

BELGIUM plans to halve its troop numbers in Afghanistan from the start of January, a defence ministry official said yesterday in the latest sign of allied exit from the decade-old war.

“The main reduction will be in Kabul,” said Didier Deweerdt, a spokesman for Defence Minister Pieter De Crem.

Out of a total strength of 585 in the country, the 325-strong contingent of soldiers working to secure the airport in Kabul will fall to just 60, he said.