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NATO Troop Levels in Afghanistan Will be Decided Later This Year: Stoltenberg
Speaking to reporters after the meeting of the Heads of the States and Government in Brussels on Thursday, Stoltenberg said: ” First of all we haven’t decided exact troop levels for 2018. Some allies also announced that they’re willing to increase their force contributions. But the exact force or troop levels will be decided later on this year.
“We reviewed our training mission in Afghanistan, and we agreed that we will continue to sustain our mission. I welcome that several Allies came forward today with new troop contributions. And on the basis of our review, we will take further decisions in the coming weeks.”
NATO is expected to increase the number of its troops in Afghanistan as the Taliban continues to cause serious threats to the government forces in the country.
The alliance have around 13,000 forces in the country mainly engaged in training, assisting and Advising mission with Afghan security forces.
“What we are aiming at and the purpose of our training mission in Afghanistan is to strengthen the capabilities and the capacities of the Afghan National Security Forces to fight Taliban and to fight the different terrorist groups in Afghanistan. And we are in particular working with the Afghan special operation forces,” NATO Secretary General said.
Stoltenberg said that developing Afghan Air force is key in the fight against insurgents and NATO is helping them in regard.
“We are also helping them to improve command and control,” he said.
He also said there is difficult situation in Afghanistan, “there will be more violence, more challenges, and still many, many unsolved problems in Afghanistan including the issue of corruption.”
“But we have made progress especially in building a strong national Afghan army and security force which has proven capable, professional and able to take over responsibility for the security in Afghanistan, without NATO forces conducting combat operations, but with our support.”