BRUSSELS (SW): NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the alliance is aware about the challenging and difficult security situation in Afghanistan but would continue to support the country.
Jens Stoltenberg said this while briefing media on Monday on the topics of this week’s meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers. On Tuesday; ministers will discuss deepening cooperation between NATO and the European Union, as well as NATO’s progress in boosting the capacity of partners to the east and the south. Later on Wednesday, ministers will meet with Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani to discuss NATO’s presence in Afghanistan.
The NATO Secretary General recalled that the international community decided in Brussels Conference on Afghanistan last month to fund Afghanistan for development as well as for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). He also reaffirmed that the NATO members would keep around 13000 troops in Afghanistan, and would continue to advise, train and support the ANSF.
He added that the alliance is aware about the challenging and difficult security environment but is impressed by the courage and professionalism of the Afghan forces in handling the difficult task.
About a question related to the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s pre-election statements in which he reportedly called Afghanistan 'a total and complete’ disaster, the NATO Secretary General said heads of state of NATO members would gather for a summit in Brussels next year during which a wide range of subjects, including Afghanistan, would be discussed in details.
Jens Stoltenberg mentioned that Donald Trump has assured the Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani about Washington’s support during a telephonic conversation few days ago.
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