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Malaysia makes first deployment to Afghanistan
Malaysian soldiers are seen on parade in Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia will make its first military deployment to Afghanistan Thursday, sending a unit of medical personnel as ties with the United States deepen. The Malaysian military will join New Zealand medics based in Bamiyan province, defence ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Salawati Yahaya told AFP.
The deployment comes at the request of the Afghan government, and follows a warming of previously frosty ties between the United States and mainly-Muslim Malaysia. Salawati said 12 personnel will leave Thursday and the remaining 28 in the 40-member contingent will depart in September for a nine-month tour of duty.
"They will provide medical and dental services to the locals," she said. New Zealand has been responsible for the Bamiyan region since 2003.
In an April meeting between Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and US President Barack Obama, the two leaders agreed to cooperate on key security issues to create a stronger relationship.
Najib has said that Malaysia is also prepared to train Afghanistan's police, military personnel and civilian administrators. Malaysia is currently the 18th largest trading partner of the United States, with approximately 34 billion dollars in two-way trade in 2009.
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