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BRUSSELS (SW): The NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, has said the Alliance will agree to extend funding to the Afghan Security Forces to 2024 at next month’s Summit.
NATO Defence Ministers today (8 June 2018) concluded a two-day meeting in Brussels with a discussion of the Alliance’s training mission in Afghanistan, and its continuing support to the Afghan government and Afghan security forces.
Mr. Stoltenberg acknowledged significant challenges remain in Afghanistan where insurgents continue to use violence against innocent civilians. “But, in the face of these challenges, Afghan forces are doing an outstanding job. They have been in the lead for three years now. And we see the real progress in their ability to conduct offensive operations”, he said
The Secretary General noted NA TO aims to strengthen the Afghan security forces so they can create the conditions for a peaceful solution. An Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process is essential to a long-term, inclusive political settlement, he said, adding President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has made a bold proposal for peace talks. “And, NATO will continue to do all we can to support that process”.
Encouraging the Afghan government to continue along the path of reforms, he added that elections in October will be an important milestone.
Pointing to the role of regional countries, Mr. Stoltenberg stressed the Alliance discussed regional situation, and urge countries in the regional to cooperate with the National Unity Government in Afghanistan.
Speaking on the occasion, James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, said important decisions to strengthen democracy have been taken at the meeting, and major decisions would be approved in the forthcoming summit. The U.S. Secreatry of Defense said 41 members of the Alliance have eaffirmed their commitments towards Afghanistan.
The unilateral and temporary ceasefire announced by the Afghan government was also discussed. The NATO Secretary General dubbed it as ‘bold and unprecedented’ move, and added now is the time for the Taliban to decide.
The U.S. Secretary of Defense said NATO urges the Taliban to respond positively.
A day earlier, in a televised announcement, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani noted the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) will only stop offensive manoeuvres against Afghan armed Taliban and will continue to target Daesh and other foreign backed terrorist organizations and their affiliates. Ghani noted the ceasefire is an opportunity for Taliban to introspect that their violent campaign is not wining them hearts and minds but further alienating the Afghan people from their cause.
Lieutenant General Tariq Shah Bahrami, Minister of National Defense, represented Afghanistan at the two-day meeting in Brussels
ENDS
