NATO Officials Meet on Afghanistan
by VOA News October 23, 2013
NATO defense ministers gathered in Brussels Wednesday for the second of a two-day meeting to discuss plans for Afghanistan after 2014.
Ministers are discussing new missions to train and assist the Afghan security forces following the scheduled withdrawal of NATO combat troops. This includes a preliminary agreement between the United States and Afghanistan to allow some American troops to stay after 2014.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Afghans can take satisfaction in what has been achieved so far.
'The people of Afghanistan can be proud of the progress of the Afghan forces and we can be confident in their ability to assume responsibility for securing their own country at the end of next year,' he said. 'At that time, our transition will be completed as planned but we remain committed to Afghanistan stability. And today we will take forward the planning for a new mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces after 2014.'
It is now up to Afghan tribal leaders and the Afghan parliament to approve the deal. Those debates are expected in November. U.S. and Afghan officials say they are confident the agreement will be accepted.'
But a senior U.S. military official also warned of high profile attacks and assassinations leading up to Afghanistan's presidential election next year.
The comments come amid persistent uncertainty about the security agreement, including provisions allowing the U.S. military to continue to conduct counterterrorism operations and ensuring that U.S. military courts, not the Afghans, would maintain legal jurisdiction over American forces that stay in the country.
An agreement is necessary before Washington can decide how many, if any, U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan after 2014.
NATO troops have been transferring combat duties to Afghan forces, which took the lead against insurgents over the past months of fighting.
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