Nato, Afghanistan agree on future military-civilian mission

Published May 13, 2015
Nato and Afghan leaders on Wednesday agreed on a framework for a future joint military-civilian presence in Afghanistan when the alliance's current mission ends, Nato's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. ─ AP
Nato and Afghan leaders on Wednesday agreed on a framework for a future joint military-civilian presence in Afghanistan when the alliance's current mission ends, Nato's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. ─ AP

ANTALYA: Nato and Afghan leaders on Wednesday agreed on a framework for a future joint military-civilian presence in Afghanistan when the alliance's current mission ends, Nato's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

While the new mission would have a military component it would notably be led by a civilian, Stoltenberg said after a session of the Nato foreign ministers meeting in the Turkish city of Antalya attended by Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani.

Nato is currently leading the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan to train Afghan security forces after the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) wound up late last year.

“We took a major decision,” Stoltenberg told reporters. “We will maintain our presence in Afghanistan even after the end of our current mission."

“Unlike our present mission, our future presence will be led by civilians."

He said the future mission “will have a light footprint but will have military component."

Stoltenberg said Nato offices had been tasked with working out a plan of the new mission by the autumn. It is not yet immediately clear when the Resolute Support mission will end and the new mission could start.

“The aim will be to advise Afghan institutions to help them become self-sufficient and help them build on what they have done so far,” he said.

He said Nato and the Afghan government had succeeded Wednesday to agree to the “guidelines” of the new mission.

Without giving precise figures, Stoltenberg said the numbers would be smaller than the present number of personnel, which comprises around 12,500 troops.

With deadly Taliban attacks on the security forces a regular occurence, Stoltenberg acknowledged that Afghanistan remained a “dangerous place”.

He said the Afghan security forces had made “enormous sacrifices” and Nato allies and partners “will stay the course."

ISAF in Afghanistan was established by United Nations Security Council resolution in 2001 in the wake of the US invasion of the country to provide security and fight the Taliban.

Read more: Gunmen kill seven in attack on Ulema Council in Afghanistan: police

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...