Azerbaijan is planning to increase the number of its peacekeeping troops participating in NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan next year, the Defense Ministry’s press service told.

Axar.az reports citing APA.

The press service noted that the decision of Azerbaijani President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev in this regard is being executed by the Defense Ministry.

“Procedures are being carried out in coordination with concerned state bodies and NATO’s command in order to implement this political decision. The number of Azerbaijan’s peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan is expected to be increased in the first quarter of next year,” added the Defense Ministry’s press service.

Earlier, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev had announced in his speech at NATO that Azerbaijan would increase its troops in numbers in order to make more contributions to peace, security and stability in Afghanistan.

Currently, the Azerbaijani peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan consists of 90 servicemen, two medical officers and two sappers.