Berlin is planning to send some 250 combat troops to Afghanistan, Rainer Arnold, the military expert of the governing Social Democratic Party, told Wednesday's Passauer Neue Presse newspaper. Arnold said deploying the combat unit would represent a "new quality" of the German contribution to the international security and stability mission in Afghanistan.

So far, German troops have taken on reconstruction and stability jobs in the northern provinces, but stayed out of the fighting that has handed heavy casualties to other nations.

The 250 combat troops have a different equipment and training than the soldiers currently on the ground. They can be sent to "hunt terrorists," the newspaper quoted Arnold as saying.

The Germans are to replace a 350-strong Norwegian combat unit stationed in the northern provinces; the Scandinavians are leaving in July.

A spokesman for the Defense Ministry said the planning for the mission has "not been finalized yet."

Germany has more than 3,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led, U.N.-mandated International Security Assistance Force. Roughly 500 soldiers run and maintain six Panavia Tornado jets that fly reconnaissance missions all over the country, and some 100 soldiers take part in the U.S.-led anti-terror mission Operation Enduring Freedom, but they are hardly ever called into action.

NATO allies have in the past repeatedly called on Germany to join the fighting in the volatile southern provinces.

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