Turkish general views Afghan task

The Turkish contingent is set to rise to 1,000 soldiers

By Jonny Dymond BBC correspondent in Istanbul

The Turkish general who will lead the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan will visit the country on Wednesday.

Turkey was wary of accepting leadership of the force and is still in negotiations over some details.

When it takes over Isaf it will quadruple the number of troops it has in Afghanistan.

According to Turkey's general staff, Major General Akin Zorlu will travel to Afghanistan to see the latest situation on the ground, and coordinate with the British team currently leading Isaf.

Reassurance

Turkey was persuaded somewhat unwillingly to accept leadership of the force.

Politicians and the public here are concerned about being caught up in an expensive operation that places its army at risk as its Nato allies leave.

It has been reassured on many of those fronts.

It will receive over $200m in return for leading Isaf.

Some ISAF troops helped in earthquake relief operations

The countries currently contributing to the force have given a commitment not to withdraw entirely, and the force will only patrol to a 32-kilometre (20-mile) radius outside Kabul.

Turkey is still in negotiation with Britain and the US about what kind of communications infrastructure they will leave behind, and how Turkey might transport its troops.

Turkey currently has 261 troops in Afghanistan, with the number set to rise to 1,000 when it takes over command.