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NATO to Agree to Send More Troops to Afghanistan
“We have decided to increase the number of troops … to help the Afghans break the stalemate,” Stoltenberg told reporters today ahead of the alliance’s defense ministers meeting later this week.
According to NATO chief, about half the additional troops will come from the U.S. and the other half from non-U.S. NATO allies and partner countries.
Stoltenberg said the troops would not have combat roles but would be part of NATO’s Resolute Support mission which aims to provide training, advice and assistance for the Afghan security forces and institutions.
“We will not go back into combat operations, but we need to strengthen the train, assist and advise mission to help the Afghans break the stalemate, to send a clear message to the Taliban insurgents that they will not win on the battleground,” NATO chief emphasized,” the only way they can achieve anything is by sitting down at a negotiating table and be part of a peaceful negotiated political solution.”
When Stoltenberg was asked about the allies approach toward Pakistan support of terrorism, he said that the issue was raised with Pakistani officials in political and military level and no country can give sanctuary to insurgents.
“No country should provide any kind of sanctuary to the Taliban or the terrorists because that just makes the fight against terrorists more difficult,” Stoltenberg concluded.