{"id":4022,"date":"2016-05-20T17:20:48","date_gmt":"2016-05-20T17:20:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/box5917.temp.domains\/~iriacom\/\/news\/?p=4022"},"modified":"2016-05-22T07:32:53","modified_gmt":"2016-05-22T07:32:53","slug":"nato-nations-to-keep-presence-in-afghanistan-beyond-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/nato-nations-to-keep-presence-in-afghanistan-beyond-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"NATO nations to keep presence in Afghanistan beyond 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

NATO foreign ministers agree to extend Afghan mission beyond\u00a02016 as the country continues to face “serious security challenges”<\/strong><\/p>\n

BRUSSELS (Belgium) –\u00a0NATO foreign ministers and alliance partners have agreed to extend its mission in Afghanistan beyond 2016 as the country continues to face “serious security challenges.”<\/p>\n

The Resolute Support mission<\/a><\/span> is alliance’s key mission that trains, advises and assists Afghanistan’s security forces and institutions.<\/p>\n

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Afghan forces were doing well against Taliban rebels, benefiting from the current military training programmes launched in 2015 after the alliance ended its direct combat role.<\/p>\n

“But Afghanistan continues to face serious security challenges. That is why today, ministers agreed to sustain the Resolute Support mission beyond 2016,” Stoltenberg said<\/a><\/span>, without saying how much longer it would continue.<\/p>\n

Stoltenberg said total contributions to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund now totalled $1.4 billion.<\/p>\n

Afghan Foreign Minister, Salahuddin Rabbani, who participated in the meeting, expressed his appreciation for NATO Allies and Partners’ continued support to Afghanistan. Rabbani also briefed the Ministers on the Afghan National Unity Government’s continuing reforms to fight corruption, protect human rights and advance peace process.<\/p>\n

The United Nations Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, the Secretary General of the European Union External Action Service and high level officials from Japan and South Korea also attended the meeting<\/p>\n

Foreign\u00a0Ministers, at the meeting, made clear that the Allies and Partners\u2019 political, military and financial support for Afghanistan will endure.<\/p>\n

US to maintain 9800 troops in Afghanistan through most of 2016<\/span><\/h3>\n

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington had 9,800 soldiers in Afghanistan, accounting for the bulk of foreign troops in the Resolute Support Mission, and the number would fall to 5,500 in 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will reiterate that America\u2019s commitment to maintain 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through most of this year and 5,500 thereafter remains, with 3,400 assigned to NATO responsibilities\u201d Kerry said.<\/p>\n

After discussing the Resolute Support mission during the\u00a0NATO’s Military Committee\/Chiefs of Defense session in Brussels<\/a><\/span> this week, Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford said he detects among allied nations “a strong commitment to finish what they started” in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

“I think most NATO nations have invested quite a bit, and everybody is interested in landing this in a good place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Army Gen. John Nicholson<\/a><\/span>, commander of the Resolute Support Mission, briefed the chiefs on the strategy in Afghanistan in 2016 and talked about the strategy for 2017, Dunford told reporters traveling with him.<\/p>\n

UK announces support for Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces<\/span><\/h3>\n

The UK will continue to support the Afghanistan forces, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond announced<\/a><\/span> at the NATO meeting of Foreign Ministers.<\/p>\n

“The UK will provide \u00a3210 million to sustain its commitment of \u00a370 million per year towards the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces – a strong signal of our enduring commitment to Afghanistan”, Philip Hammond said.<\/p>\n

\"Left<\/a>

Left to right: General Curtis Scaparrotti (Supreme Allied Commander Europe) with General John Nicholson (Commander, Resolute Support) and General Denis Mercier (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation) at the NATO Foreign Ministers meetin<\/em>g<\/p><\/div>\n

NATO Foreign Ministers and participants of the meeting also shared their resolute on Twitter:<\/p>\n

\n

Denmark confirmed in Brussels today that we will support Afghanistan security with 15 mil $ till 2020 and approx 100 soldiers #dkpol<\/a> #NATO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kristian Jensen (@Kristian_Jensen) May 20, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Pleased to announce \u00a3210 million for #Afghanistan<\/a> security. Encourage all #NATO<\/a> partners to signal their support. https:\/\/t.co\/hWemaTemKE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Philip Hammond (@PHammondMP) May 20, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n