Albania has sent its first combat contingent of 44 troops to Afghanistan, a top Albanian army general said on Wednesday, saying the country will send more in the future.

"The new batch of troops will take part in combat operations in the Afghan province of Kandahar, it is the first time that Albanian troops will take on combat missions in Afghanistan," Maksim Malaj, chief of staff of the Albanian armed forces, told Xinhua.

Malaj made the remarks on Wednesday at a party thrown by the Chinese embassy in Albania to celebrate the Chinese Army's Day which falls on Aug. 1.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said on Wednesday at a send-off ceremony for the troops that Albania will commit more combat troops to Afghanistan in the future.

Albania joined NATO in April 2009. It now has 245 troops stationed in Afghanistan. They are doing protection jobs at military bases for other troops, mainly in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan.