MONITORING (SW) – US President Joe Biden has said diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian commitment to the Afghan people and security forces will endure.
He said this addressing NATO Summit at the Belgian capital, Brussels on Monday.
“And, I welcomed our Allies and partners to recognize that counterterrorism — that counterterrorism efforts must continue to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for attacks on our countries, even as we take on terrorist networks in the Middle East and Africa”, said the US President.
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NATO expresses commitment to maintain critical infrastructure in Afghanistan
Separately, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said following the meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government that commitment to continue to stand with Afghanistan has been reaffirmed with training and financial support for Afghan forces and institutions, and funding to ensure the continued functioning of the international airport.
“Well we are working, with our other- – NATO Allies are now working on how to ensure the continued operation of an international airport in Kabul. There were meetings also on the sidelines of the summit today. Turkey, of course, plays a key role in those efforts”, he said, adding it remained important for NATO, for conntinued civilian presence and for the whole international community.
He added all Allies promised to continue to fund the Afghan forces and to organise out-of-country training of Afghan Security Forces, especially the Special Operations Forces.
“Thirdly, we are, we have decided to continue our civilian presence in Afghanistan to provide advice, capacity building. And fourth, we will really work hard to maintain critical infrastructure, such as the airport, to enable both the presence of NATO, as the civilian presence of NATO, but also of course, presence of the broader international community, and diplomatic presence, but also of course the development aid community. So these are four important ways where we will continue to provide support”, he added.
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