NATO to continue support for Afghanistan

NATO defence ministers confirmed, during a meeting of the NATO mission Resolute Support nations here on Thursday, enduring support for Afghanistan.

The meeting, attended by Afghan Acting Minister of Defence Masoom Stanezkai, reviewed the security situation and the first six months of the Resolute Support mission.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said: “We strongly support the Afghan government in their efforts” to bring peace to the country.

“Our forces continue to provide training, advice and assistance. We are beginning to plan for the next stage of our Resolute Support mission,” he went on. “We have confirmed our commitment to a civilian-led presence” in order to “further develop Afghan security institutions,” he added.

Calling this a “time of changes and challenges,” the NATO chief said: “Together, we will rise to the challenges and we will stand together.”