Kabul: France will deploy a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier off Pakistan next month so its war planes can support military operations in neighbouring Afghanistan ahead of an expected increase in rebel violence, a French general said on Wednesday.
About 20 reconnaissance and combat aircraft will operate from the Charles de Gaulle carrier and will fly back and forth through Pakistani airspace into Afghanistan, said Gen. Henri Bentegeat, the French Chief of Defense Staff.
The ship will be stationed in international waters near Pakistan from May 5-25, he said.
The war-planes will support both NATO troops, who are gradually expanding their area of operations into southern Afghanistan, as well as U.S.-led coalition forces, who have been hunting Taleban and Al Qaida remnants since 2001, Bentegeat told reporters in Kabul.
He said Paris decided to deploy the extra force at this time because of an expected increase in attacks by insurgents as warmer spring weather melts snow on high mountain passes the militants use.
Last year was the deadliest in Afghanistan since the Taleban were ousted in 2001 and U.S. officials have said they expect it to get even worse this year.
France has about 900 troops in Afghanistan, most of them are members of the NATO force while about 200 special forces operate in the country