Germany's Defence Minister, Peter Struck, has proposed that his country, together with the Netherlands, take over leadership of the international security forces in Afghanistan. Mr Struck made the offer in Poland at a Nato conference. First it was the British, then the Turks and next it seems it might be Germany and the Netherlands. Both countries already have more than 1,300 soldiers in the 4,500 strong force which guards Kabul but, as from the end of the year, that role may well be expanded. Turkey has already indicated it won't extend its mandate beyond December. With no other force rushing to fill the vacuum, the 20 countries which play a role in the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) may well take up the Germans and Dutch on their offer. While the expansion of international forces beyond Kabul has met with a negative response from contributing nations, their continued presence, at least in the capital, will be welcomed by most Afghans. The current climate of insecurity remains an obstacle on the path of Afghanistan's reconstruction. Strong criticism in a conservative newspaper in Kabul, which described Hamid Karzai's authority as "vague", is a warning signal that he may be losing support from a key coalition. However, the all-powerful Defence Minister, Mohammed Fahim, has categorically rejected the opinion expressed in the editorial. He says he is prepared to do everything he can to support the president, and the peace. (BBC)