AP: NATO Chief Says Afghan Forces Can Cope Alone
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance has helped provide security in Afghanistan for almost two decades, but the Afghan government and the Afghan forces are strong enough to stand on their own feet in absence of international troops’ support.
The US and coalition forces started their withdrawal on May 1. So far, nearly one-quarter of the withdrawal has been completed, according to the Pentagon.
“I think that the Afghans, they also realize that we have been there now for 20 years and we have invested heavily in blood and treasure in Afghanistan,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Govt: Political Leaders Ready to Join Supreme State Council
The State Minister on Peace Affairs on Thursday said that the majority of the nation’s political leaders are ready to become members of the Supreme State Council and will help the government in the post-withdrawal scenario.
Sayed Saadat Mansour Naderi, the State Minister on Peace Affairs, said that the Supreme State Council will be an authorized body and will deal with issues of national importance including the issue of war and peace.
He said that the peace negotiating team representing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will soon decide to return to Doha to resume the talks with the Taliban side.