ASIA-PACIFIC Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, issued a strong defence of her country’s military involvement in Afghanistan on Tuesday in response to criticism that has set Berlin against its allies and tested the country’s resolve to fight the Taliban.
Ms Merkel told parliament that she “deeply regretted” any civilian deaths caused by a German-ordered air strike on two fuel tankers in northern Afghanistan, which killed more than 50 people on Friday. But the chancellor said she would not tolerate international partners who prejudged the incident.
