NATO chief: Lasting ceasefire needed in Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): Renewing stout support for the ongoing Afghan peace process, NATO says it has adjusted its presence in Afghanistan.

While the US has decided to further cut its troop levels in the country to 2,500, NATO’s training mission continued, the secretary-general said.

Addressing a virtual news conference in Brussels on Tuesday, Jens Stoltenberg said over half of NATO forces in Afghanistan were non-US.

“Ministers made clear that all allies remain committed to the mission and supporting the Afghan security forces in the fight against terrorism,” he said after a meeting of foreign ministers.

He said as the alliance continued to assess the situation in Afghanistan, they would clearly face a turning point early next year.

Stoltenberg added: “If we stay, we risk continued fighting and an even longer-term engagement. If we leave, we risk Afghanistan once again becoming a safe haven for international terrorists…”

The NATO head made clear there was a price for staying longer — just as there was a price for leaving too soon.

“We will have to take some hard decisions when NATO defence ministers meet in February. But whatever we decide, we must do it in a coordinated and orderly way.”

NATO allies, including the US, remained committed to continued support to the Afghan security forces, he explained.

For nearly 20 years, Stoltenberg continued, the alliance helped train and support the Afghan forces. “We recently decided to continue the funding for the Afghan forces throughout 2024.”

He restated the alliance would not stay in Afghanistan for longer than necessary. He welcomed the direct talks between Taliban and the Afghan government for the first time in these two decades.

“It’s far too early to say whether these talks will succeed, but they are the only path, they are the only real possibility for a political settlement of the crisis in Afghanistan.”
With this in mind, he said, the defence ministerial meeting in February would be an important event.

He once again called on Taliban to reduce violence as the first step. What was needed to see was a lasting peace agreement, including a ceasefire, the secretary-general said.

The foreign ministers are set to conclude their two-day meeting today (Wednesday).

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