The German Army has plans to withdraw its six Tornado combat aircraft from Afghanistan in a move to transfer resources in training Afghan security forces.

General chief of staff Volker Wieker had advised the German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg to transfer resources and withdraw the reconnaissance planes.

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The six fighter planes have been delivering terrain photos to the international military mission, International Security Force for Afghanistan (ISAF), since 2007, according to the Local.

ISAF Commander David Petraeus has suggested that more ground troops were required as Germany’s military commitment was currently limited to 5,350 soldiers.

Petraeus has also requested that Guttenberg send 350 extra troops from the flexible reserve force to Afghanistan.

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