News - Afghanistan

Some Nato forces will remain in Afghanistan after 2014, assuring ongoing stability as the alliance moves from a combat role to a training mission, Nato-led Isaf spokesman Brig. Gen. Gunter Katz said in Kabul on Monday.

Addressing fears of rising insecurity once foreign forces leave in 2014, Katz emphasised the ongoing support of the international community towards Afghan security forces.

"Afghanistan will stay stable after 2014. The commitment from the international community at the Chicago and Tokyo summit shows that Afghanistan will be supported in the future as well," Katz said at a briefing in Kabul.

Nato civilian spokesman Dominic Medley made similar remarks, saying that the framework for Nato's post-2014 engagement in Afghanistan was decided on last week in Brussels.

"Nato defence ministers and the ministers from potential operational partners concluded the first stage of planning for that new mission. This will guide the military experts as they take the planning process forward. It is expected to agree on a detailed outline early next year, and to complete the plan well before the end of 2013," Medley said Monday in Kabul.

"This new mission will not be a combat mission. It will be a mission to train, advise and assist," he added.

He pointed out that Afghan security forces are already responsible for security of 75 percent of the Afghan people and that they will lead all the military operations by the first half of 2013.

"International community and Nato are committed towards Afghanistan and promised billions of dollars to the country. Afghan forces will be supported in the future and their training mission will continue," Medley added.

The Nato office in Kabul also introduced new senior civilian envoy to replace Simon Gass who completed his term last month.

Ambassador Maurits Jochems, who is originally from the Netherlands, already held the position of Nato Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan for an interim period in early 2008.

For the last two years Jochems has been the Ambassador for the Netherlands to Estonia.