Afghanistan Times
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AT Monitoring Desk-We, the Heads of State and Government of the nations contributing to the Resolute Support mission, and the President and Chief Executive of the National Unity Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, met today in Warsaw1 to reaffirm our mutual commitment to ensure long-term security and stability in Afghanistan.
We pay tribute to the efforts of all the members of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces and of the Resolute Support mission, and we honour those who have lost their lives or been injured since our efforts began.
Afghanistan will not stand alone. Together with the rest of the international community, our aim remains that Afghanistan will never again become a safe haven for terrorists who can pose a threat to our security; and that it is able to sustain its own security, governance, and economic and social development, while respecting human rights for all of its citizens, notably those of women and children.
Since our Wales Summit, Afghanistan, with the support of the international community, has continued to make advances, including in democratic processes, education, healthcare, human rights including those of women, and free media. But Afghanistan still faces serious challenges, and further efforts are needed for the country to fully safeguard and consolidate our joint achievements. This includes in areas such as: electoral reforms, empowerment of women, combating corruption, countering narcotics trafficking, and to ensure a stable security environment, job creation, and improve economic opportunities, which would have an important impact on migration.
Since January 2015, the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces have maintained full responsibility for security throughout the country. Since then, at the request of the Afghan National Unity Government, the non-combat, conditions-based Resolute Support mission is providing training, advice and assistance to allow Afghanistan to continue to build professionally trained and well equipped defence and security forces which are demonstrating remarkable resilience and courage in meeting the challenges they face. While the Afghan Security Institutions and forces continue to develop and make progress, challenges and capability gaps persist, and they continue to need international support.
Therefore, NATO and its operational partners have today committed to:
Sustain the Resolute Support mission beyond 2016 through a flexible, regional model, to continue to deliver training, advice and assistance to the Afghan Security Institutions including the police, the air force and special operations forces. We will continue to keep the mission and its configuration under review;
Continue national contributions to the financial sustainment of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, including until the end of 2020. We also urge the wider international community to remain engaged in the financial sustainment of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces;
Strengthen and enhance the Enduring Partnership between NATO and Afghanistan established at the 2010 Lisbon Summit, to further develop our long-term partnership including through political dialogue and practical cooperation.
Afghanistan, including with the continued support of NATO and its operational partners, commits to:
Strengthen further the Afghan Security Institutions and forces, including particularly enhancing their leadership skills; and ensure they are fully capable of providing security for the Afghan people; operate under effective civilian control; respect human rights; and act in accordance with the Afghan constitution and the rule of law;
Continue, as its economy and revenues grow, to increase its contribution to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, with the aim of assuming financial responsibility for its security forces by the end of the Transformation Decade in 2024, in accordance with the 2012 Chicago Summit Declaration;
Continue to pursue reforms; including to root out corruption; promote transparency and accountability; and foster economic development;
Build on recent achievements in empowering women to participate fully in all aspects of Afghan society, including service in the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces; and political processes; and fully implement Afghanistan’s National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325;
Take further steps to protect children from the damaging effects of armed conflict, and from violations of their rights, as required by UNSCR 1612 and other relevant UNSC Resolutions; and strengthen the capacity of the Afghan security institutions and forces to protect civilians.
Good neighbourly relations, and regional cooperation and support to a secure and stable Afghanistan, remain essential. We welcome the role played by the Istanbul Process in supporting the Heart of Asia region which includes Afghanistan. A stable and prosperous Afghanistan will support a stable and prosperous region.
We reaffirm our belief that an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process, which respects the Afghan constitution and human rights, including notably the rights of women, is the pathway to a sustainable resolution of the conflict. The region and the international community at large must respect and support such a process and its outcome.
The NATO-led efforts contribute to the wider international efforts, and we look forward to the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan in October this year.
Our task is not yet complete, and we remain resolute and united in our commitment to a secure and stable Afghanistan.
