WARSAW (SW): NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Saturday the alliance is ready to provide $1 billion in non-U.S. commitments to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) till 2020.
He announced this at the second day of the NATO’s Warsaw Summit in the Polish capital. The US has budgeted $3.45 billion in annual funds to pay for the Afghan forces, with the Afghan government providing an additional sum of around $420 million, for a total yearly budget of nearly $5 billion.
Jens Stoltenberg, said in his remarks that the NATO is prepared to protect and defend all its allies.
Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged that Afghanistan is making progress. “And that progress must continue, especially when it comes to respect for human rights, anti-corruption and electoral reforms. Working towards reconciliation should also be a priority”, he remarked after an exclusive session on Afghanistan.
He said that NATO would continue to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces. The NATO Secretary General added that these commitments are made at a time when Afghanistan still faces serious instability and threats. “We agreed to sustain our Resolute Support Mission beyond 2016 in Afghanistan, and we reaffirmed our support for a long-term political partnership and practical cooperation with Afghanistan”, he noted.
Jens Stoltenberg said NATO has decided to sustain the Resolute Support Mission beyond 2016, continue funding for the Afghan security forces through 2020 and support a long-term political partnership and practical cooperation with Afghanistan.
He further said that the NATO’s message is clear: Afghanistan does not stand alone in the fight against terrorism.
ENDS
