From Xinhua: Germany would use a London conference to announce its new strategy for Afghanistan, German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said on Wednesday.

Guttenberg told local daily Leipziger Volkszeitung that Germany would announce its own unilateral strategy for Afghanistan at the London conference, which is due to be held on Jan. 28.

The new strategy was based on Germany’s own considerations and could not be influenced by the United States and NATO, Guttenberg said.

“I am not one to submit to peer pressure,” he said. “I also don’t need direction from the USA to form my opinion.” The widely touted figure of 2,500 extra German troops was “not realistic,” he said. (photo: DGAP)