Moscow, Jan 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) French armed forces will stay in Afghanistan even after the withdrawal of coalition troops in 2014, the country’s defence minister said Sunday.

Gerard Longuet made the announcement in Tajikistan capital Dushanbe.

A French air force unit is based in Dushanbe since 2001 to provide services for the coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The unit included 250 troopers and six Dassault Rafale fighter jets till 2008 when the fighters were redeployed to Kunduz region in northern Afghanistan. One hundred French troops are currently in Dushanbe.