Berlin, Feb 24(IRNA)
The German government may send its most sophisticated `Leopard 2A6' combat tanks to war-stricken southern Afghanistan, the Dusseldorf-based daily Rheinischen Post said in its Saturday edition.

Germany's national security council will reportedly discuss the issue on Monday during a top secret meeting following a Canadian request to use the German-made tank against resurgent Taliban troops.

The German government has already signaled a likely positive response on the case.

According to the report, around 20 Leopard combat tanks may be leased to Canada for military operations in southern Afghanistan.

NATO's defense minister agreed during their recent meeting in Seville, Spain to upgrade the military equipment of ISAF forces in Afghanistan in view of a likely Taliban attack this spring.

Germany has faced intense pressure from the US, Canada and Britain to shift some of its 2,750-strong ISAF forces from nothern to southern Afghanistan.

Berlin has steadfastly argued that it is not authorized by the German parliament to move troops outside northern Afghanistan and Kabul.

Germany did, however, earlier consent to send `Tornado' reconaissance fighter jets to southern Afghanistan.

In other related news, a senior German lawmaker of the ruling coalition's Social Democratic Party rejected plans by the US to put the 35,000 multi-nation ISAF troops under its command amid the worsening security situation in Afghanistan.

The defense spokesman of the SPD, Rainer Arnold, dismissed the American strategy change in Afghanistan as "nonsense," the online daily Netzeitung reported Saturday.

Arnold was referring to statements of US National security Advisor Stephen Hadley, who had advocated such new plans.

The German MP said giving up regional command structures would "not make any sense."