NATO has agreed a limited expansion of its peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan beyond the Kabul area to the provinces for the first time, diplomats say.
The agreement backed German plans to send up to 450 soldiers to the northern region of Kunduz, once the UN Security Council approves an expanded mandate for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Germany is expected to submit a resolution soon.
Diplomats said the NATO decision endorsed the principle of other limited, temporary deployments outside Kabul - for example to protect elections, subject to forces being available.