‘NATO will not leave Afghanistan before time is right’

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said no ally wanted to stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary, but the alliance will not leave before the time is right.

“Our common goal is clear, Afghanistan should never again serve as a haven for terrorists to attack our homelands,” he said ahead of NATO defence ministers meeting which will discuss Afghanistan on Thursday.

He said that NATO strongly supports the peace process in Afghanistan.
This is the best chance for a lasting political solution and all parties must accelerate progress to seize this historic opportunity. NATO has significantly adjusted our presence as part of the peace process.

However, peace talks remain fragile and the level of violence remains unacceptably high Including Taliban attacks on civilians.

The Taliban must reduce violence, negotiate in good faith and live up to their commitment to stop cooperating with international terrorist groups.

Stoltenberg that NATO defence ministers will continue to assess the situation on the ground and monitor developments very closely.

“We will continue to take all measures to ensure the safety of our troops. And consider next steps in a deliberate and coordinated way,” he said.

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