NATO chief vows continued assistance
05 March, 2013
KABUL: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Monday vowed to continue assistance to Afghanistan after 2014 and urged Afghanistan to fulfil their promises it had made to international community. This he said while addressing a joint press conference with President Hamid Karzai. Earlier, the NATO chief arrived in Kabul on an unannounced visit. He said the process of security transition to Afghan forces was very effective continuing and would soon be completed. The transition process was started in the same month two years ago and 87 percent Afghanistan is now in the control of Afghan forces, he said, adding they knew that the Afghan force have strengthened and can defend their country. He, however, said it was vital that the Afghan government should also fulfil their promises with international community, especially countering corruption. Reference to the problems in Afghanistan, he said the Afghan forces could solve these problems on their own. The NATO secretary general said they were with Afghanistan beyond 2014. He termed the upcoming elections as a good opportunity for Afghans and said the Afghans should not lose this opportunity. President Hamid Karzai also addressed the press conference and said the NATO chief assured him that NATO and other countries would continue cooperation to Afghanistan after 2014. He said he discussed terrorism, regional and international issue with the NATO chief. Though Rasmussen termed the Afghan forces as strengthened, most of the experts do not believe that Afghan forces would be able o maintain security and fight Taliban in the country. End.
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