The CDU right-wing government of Angela Merkel has in principal approved a one-year extension of its NATO deployment force in Afghanistan,  however the size of troop level will stay the same.

The cabinet decision will have to be confirmed by the German Parliament next month  when the current mandate expires. For various reasons -probably related to back-door agreements with the US-  this decision runs completely contrary to the deep opposition felt among German voters to any Afghanistan deployment.

Germany is the third largest contributor of foreign forces in Afghanistan after the United States and Britain. Germany has more than 4,000 troops stationed there.

While Merkel has a  majority in Parliament, according to polls most of the electorate is unhappy with the Afghan mission.

The December debate in Parliament and subsequent vote will be the first test for the head of the opposition Frank Walter Steinmeir, the former foreign minister.