Danish politicians mull deploying F-16 jets in Afghanistan

Oct 1, 2008, 13:14 GMT

Copenhagen - Danish politicians were willing to consider deploying F-16 jet fighters in Afghanistan, if there was need for the planes, according to reports quoting them Wednesday.

The comments came in response to an article in the Berlingske Tidende newspaper where Danish Air Force personnel appeared frustrated over not being considered as an option in the Danish contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

'We want to be sure that the politicians are aware of our capability,' Colonel Niels Svaerdborg was quoted as saying in Wednesday's edition of the daily.

Svaerdborg is head of the F-16 squadron in Skrydstrup, southern Jutland where all 48 Danish Air Force F-16s are based since 2005.

The F-16s can be used for reconnaissance flights, transmitting live television images from a specific area, as well as detecting forces with their infrared equipment, he noted.

The main opposition parties that back the centre-right minority government's decision to deploy forces in Afghanistan were willing to consider the offer.

'If there is need for them, I would certainly consider it,' John Dyrby Paulsen, defence spokesman of the opposition Social Democrats, told the news agency Ritzau.

A similar stance was expressed by Morten Helveg Petersen of the Social Liberals, who said he had 'not heard of the need for any Danish F-16s.'

'The F-16s are one of the tools in the toolbox we can use, if they can make a difference,' Ib Poulsen of the Danish People's Party said.

About 550 Danish soldiers are deployed as part of the ISAF in Afghanistan.