French uproar over Taliban ambush trophy photos

The security of NATO troops in Afghanistan is being widely debated again in France after a magazine printed photos of Taliban fighters with spoils taken from ten French soliders killed last month.

The photographer who took the pictures for Paris Match says the Taliban were very clear in their demands.

Veronique de Viguerie said the Taliban told her that “if French troops leave between now and the end of Ramadan then our relationship will remain intact, but if not, we’ll consider you the same as the Americans, and in which case we will kill you all.”

Paris Match has been accused by some of peddling Taliban propaganda but it has also tapped a nerve that is becoming more and more raw.

Last month’s ambush was France’s worst single military loss in 25 years and the country’s parliament is due to hold a special debate next week on the role of the French troops. But the government insists the mission will continue.

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