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KABUL: NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, Ambassador Nicholas Kay has said he was “really impressed and struck by the strong unanimity within the NATO Defense Minister’ on Afghan mission.
I am very struck by everybody repeating that the NATO mission in conditions based, Kay said while speaking to reporters after the conclusion of NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan in Brussels.
Ambassador Kay said they (defense ministers) are absolutely committed to the mission in Afghanistan and there was talk of making sure that the mission there is an enduring mission and that the force posture level is an enduring sustainable mission.
This comes as acting Defense Minister Assadullah Khalid said NATO is committed to help the Afghan security forces. “NATO members have praised ability of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in the fight against insurgents.”
He said this at the NATO HQ Brussels on Friday, adding NATO members have not made any decision regarding reduction of troops from Afghanistan.
Moreover, NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that despite “the ups and downs” of troop numbers, NATO was committed to its Afghan mission.
In a press conference, Stoltenberg said NATO’s support to Afghanistan with both forces and funding remains “steadfast”.
Furthermore, he talked about peace talks, saying “NATO will welcome the resumption of talks between US and the Taliban.”
This comes as in early September, U.S. President Donald Trump declared the peace talks with the Taliban “dead” following a recent attack in Kabul that killed 12 innocent Afghans, including a U.S. service member. President Trump said Taliban have no willingness for ceasefires.
