Czech Republic to donate weapons, helicopters to Afghanistan

The cabinet has approved a weapons donation from the Czech Republic to Afghan armed forces. The country will donate 20,000 submachine guns and 650 machine guns worth more than 30 million Czech crowns (or 1.4 million US dollars) to Afghanistan. The Defence Ministry says the weapons were surplus to their requirements, adding that the donation was part of international efforts to improve the security situation and boost democracy in Afghanistan. In March, the government is going to discuss a delivery of 12 transport and combat helicopters. The weapons should be delivered to Afghanistan by the end of the year.