Madrid, Sep 10 (Xinhua) Spain will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan within five years, Defence Minister Carme Chacon said.

The remarks followed Spain's recent announcement that it would send another 220 soldiers to the Central Asian country to help in the continued battle against the Taliban.

The reinforcement will be ratified by the Spanish parliament Friday despite criticism from the opposition Popular Party.

Speaking on Cadena Ser radio Wednesday, Chacon said: 'We need to fix times and a horizon to say that we will have achieved our objective in less than five years.'

'That timescale seems reasonable to Spain,' said the minister, who stressed the peacekeeping mission of the Spanish troops in Afghanistan.

'They will be involved in the establishment of stability, development and reconstruction of the country.