MONITORING (SW) – The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said there is a price if the Allies decide to stay, but there will also be a price if it is decided to leave the war-ridden country.
In his remarks ahead of the meetings of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Stoltenberg said the price of staying is continued military involvement in Afghanistan, a price in treasure and in blood and the price of leaving is the risk of jeopardizing the gains made.
“And I think it’s better to be honest that there is no easy solution to that dilemma. But I look forward to discussion with foreign ministers tomorrow and then to continue this and then to also to make the decision with the new Biden administration next year”, he said responding to a question.
The NATO Secretary General said in his phone call with President-elect Joe Biden, he underlined the importance of Afghanistan and ‘the dilemma’ the Alliance faces.
“The main issue is that in the US-Taliban agreement, it is stated that all international troops, also NATO troops, should be out of Afghanistan by 1 May. That’s the reason why we are now faced with a very clear decision, a very difficult choice to be made, which actually represents a dilemma for all of us”, said Stoltenberg.
The NATO chief said the Taliban is not living up to their part of the agreement, not delivering on their promises. He added the talks in Qatar are fragile, difficult and there is no guarantee for success, but they are the best – and actually now the only – path to peace. Stoltenberg called on Taliban to meet all their obligations to deliver what they have promised. He also called on the Afghan government to seize this historic opportunity for peace and to negotiate in good faith.
“The US troop withdrawal will, of course, reduce the US presence in Afghanistan. But the NATO Training Mission will continue in its current configuration, meaning that we will maintain the different bases, including the German-led base in the north, Mazar-e-Sharif, and then the Italian-led in the west, Herat. And then, of course, the NATO presence, for instance, in Kabul, where Turkey has a lead role at the airport. And we have UK troops and we have, of course, also Estonian troops in Afghanistan. And the NATO Training Mission will continue and European NATO Allies and partner nations have all stated clearly that they will continue to sustain their troop levels in Afghanistan”, he said.
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