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NATO Well Aware of Tenuous Security Situation in Afghanistan
Jens Stoltenberg stated that he is confident that the new US administration will continue to support Afghanistan and continue to be part of NATO efforts to provide practical and political support, train, assist and advise NATO forces.
” “We will have a summit next year here in Brussels and I’m looking forward to meet the new president [US] Donald Trump here to discuss a wide range of issues and I guess we’ll also have an ample opportunity to discuss Afghanistan … I am confident that also the new US administration will continue to support Afghanistan and continue to be part of NATO efforts to provide practical and political support, train, assist and advise NATO forces,” Stoltenberg told a press conference.
This comes as Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Salahuddin Rabbani is expected to represent Afghanistan at the NATO ministerial level meeting that would begin in Brussels, the capital of Belgium on Tuesday.
” NATO’s presence in Afghanistan demonstrates our long-term commitment to the fight against terrorism. It is helping to stabilize the region and stem the flow of migrants and refugees,” Stoltenberg added.
International troops were sent to Afghanistan by the Western military alliance NATO after the Taliban were ousted in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
The number of NATO forces peaked at about 140,000 in 2011, but decreased in subsequent years as NATO countries wound down combat operations, handing over control to local security forces.
Countries with troops still in Afghanistan include the US, Georgia, Germany, Turkey, Romania, Italy, the UK and Australia.