‘NATO combat operations in Afghanistan to last till 2014′
February 3rd, 2012 - 6:21 am ICT by IANSBrussels, Feb 3 (IANS) NATO forces would not end combat operations in Afghanistan until the security transition to local forces completed by the end of 2014, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said.
Rasmussen, after a meeting with NATO defence ministers, said Thursday that the coalition was sticking to its previously agreed roadmap, which was declared in November 2010 in Lisbon, to wind up operations in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, Xinhua reported.
“That decision and that roadmap still stand. We are all committed to the principle: in together, out together,” he said.
“Until we reach that point, the role of our forces will gradually change from combat to support, based on security and the realities on the ground,” said Rasmussen. “But let me stress: we will conduct combat operations throughout the transition period.”
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Tags: afghanistan, anders fogh rasmussen, brussels, combat operations, lisbon, nato, nato defence ministers, nato forces, nato secretary general, principle, realities, roadmap, stress, transition period, xinhua