Partnership with Afghanistan to continue after 2014: Ban
May 21st, 2012 - 12:18 pm ICT by IANSChicago, May 21 (IANS) The international community will continue partnership with Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO-led forces by the end of 2014, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.
Ban made the remarks after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the sidelines of the two-day NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit, which kicked off here Sunday afternoon, Xinhua reported.
“The secretary-general said the Chicago summit was an important milestone that underscored, and that the international community will continue to partner with Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the international military forces,” Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.
The NATO-led ISAF, a coalition force whose numbers reached a peak of more than 140,000 troops last year, has already started a draw-down.
The vast majority is scheduled to leave by the end of 2014, when the Afghan troops are expected to take over all security responsibilities.
“While noting the steps the Afghan authorities have taken on governance, he said that amid a global fiscal crisis donors would continue to link long-term aid with delivery on governance,” the statement said.
“The secretary-general reiterated the readiness of the United Nations to provide support to the Afghan authorities to produce credible and democratic elections,” said the statement.
The UN chief also underscored the importance of political reconciliation, socio-economic development and human rights, especially to improve the status for women and girls in the war-torn country, it added.
- Afghan situation cause for alarm, concern: UN chief - Apr 27, 2012
- Karzai leaves for Bonn meet - Dec 02, 2011
- Karzai wants neighbours' closer cooperation for peace - Jun 14, 2012
- NATO plans new Afghan mission after 2014 - Jun 04, 2012
- UN chief discusses Afghanistan with Zardari - May 22, 2012
- Obama 'briefly' meets Zardari - May 22, 2012
- Afghan force to protect NATO bases - Aug 24, 2012
- Pakistan to seek $1 bn from NATO - May 20, 2012
- NATO on course for planned Afghan withdrawal: Merkel - May 05, 2012
- US to end Afghan combat operations in 2013 - Feb 03, 2012
- NATO to begin 'new phase of campaign' in Afghanistan after 2014 transition: Official - Jan 26, 2011
- Russia seeks US explanation over post-2014 Afghan presence - Apr 26, 2012
- Russia not to allocate $10 mn for Afghan army - May 25, 2012
- Afghanistan seeks early security handover: Karzai - Mar 16, 2012
- Zardari-NATO chief meet postponed due to plane delay - May 20, 2012
Tags: afghan president hamid karzai, atlantic treaty organization, ban ki moon, coalition force, democratic elections, fiscal crisis, hamid karzai, international military forces, milestone, nato north, north atlantic treaty organization, organization summit, political reconciliation, president hamid karzai, security responsibilities, sidelines, spokesperson, sunday afternoon, un secretary general, xinhua