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Concerned about conflict

Readers share their views on the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan in the wake of antiwar rallies over Easter.

Bundeswehr soldiers undergoing training with combat gear
The German role in Afghanistan has been a much discussed topicImage: AP

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Guttenberg says German troops will stay in Afghan "war"

Germany is now becoming more secular and thousands of people from across the world immigrate into Germany. Peace and prosperity is the main reason for this. The western forces have to act like a big stick and weed out the problems at the beginning itself, or else it will become a crisis waiting to hook us in. The Afghan people deserve peace after decades of war and dictatorship. Who else can better understand than the people of Germany? -- Santosh Jain, US

You should ask what the core objectives are for German troops in Afghanistan. If the core objectives are "nation building, democracy, women emancipation etc.," then forget it. You could keep your troops there for another 10 years but the objectives are lost. If your core mission is to catch or kill al-Qaeda operatives behind 11/9 attacks and then pull out then there is some hope. Anyway, an exit plan is important to announce so that everyone knows that the German military is not an occupation force with ambitions to stay in Afghanistan for an unlimited time. It's about time that the German government talked about core objectives and exit planning. -- Amir Iftikhar Warraich, Pakistan

Easter marchers call for Afghanistan withdrawal after soldier deaths

Bravo for the for peace demonstrators, who are expressing the wish of a majority of Germans. This mission in Afghanistan lost its focus - to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people - not for lack of trying on the soldiers' part, but because of a different culture and much corruption in the Afghan government. The US should also rethink NATO's role and find a political solution before the war turns into another Vietnam fiasco for them, with many more lives lost and money wasted. -- G. Gosau, Canada.

Thousands of Easter marchers demand Afghan withdrawal

Easter marchers are letting the politicians know what is cheesing the population off and that gives the politicians something to think about.-- Stuart John Pearson, Australia

I am proud of the German people for voicing their opposition regarding their government's participation in the Afghanistan war. War is never the answer and it is a costly undertaking. It is foremost a waste of lives. Perpetual war for peace has become unpopular world-wide. -- Isabella Miram, US

Compiled by Stuart Tiffen
Editor: Jennifer Abamsohn