NATO To Be Involved In Afghanistan For At Least 24 Years

NATO To Be Involved In Afghanistan For At Least 24 Years

http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/12/08/nato-assist-afghanistan-beyond-2014

Pajhwok Afghan News
December 8, 2011

NATO to assist Afghanistan beyond 2014
By Khwaja Basir Ahmad

-Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, Janan Musazai, told a press
conference in Brussels NATO states had once again renewed their
commitment toward Afghanistan and voiced support for its security
forces until 2024.
A joint Afghan-NATO plan regarding strengthening security forces
would be finalised ahead of the alliance's next meeting in Chicago in
May, he said.

BRUSSELS: NATO foreign ministers, at a two-day meeting that began in
Belgium on Thursday, vowed to continue supporting Afghanistan beyond
2014, when all foreign are scheduled to leave the war-hit country.

The meeting in Brussels was attended by foreign ministers of member
states together with non-NATO, troop-contributing nations. Afghan
Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul was also in attendance. The
meeting discussed issues concerning Afghanistan, Russia and Kosovo.

Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, Janan Musazai, told a press
conference in Brussels NATO states had once again renewed their
commitment toward Afghanistan and voiced support for its security
forces until 2024.

A joint Afghan-NATO plan regarding strengthening security forces
would be finalised ahead of the alliance's next meeting in Chicago in
May, he said.

The Chicago session would discuss long-term commitments of NATO
countries to Afghan forces, Musazai explained.

He said long-term cooperation was aimed at training and equipping
Afghan forces...He continued the message conveyed at the meeting was
loud and clear: NATO's commitment would continue after the planned
withdrawal of international troops in 2014.

...

Foreign leaders pledged continued military, political, economic and
regional cooperation at the talks, he insisted.

...

At last year's NATO summit in Lisbon, Rasmussen had noted members'
pledge to remain engaged in Afghanistan beyond 2014 after ISAF's
withdrawal.

"At our next summit in Chicago, we will give substance to that pledge
by agreeing a package of concrete assistance measures. We are
committed to Afghanistan and its future," he added.