NATO in Afghanistan to Create Conditions for Peaceful Solution

NATO Secretary General Jens. Stoltenberg, during his meeting, with the acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan in Washington on Monday said that we are in Afghanistan to create the conditions for a peaceful and negotiated solution.
“The reason why NATO is in Afghanistan is to create a condition for (inaudible) peaceful solution to make sure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorists,” NATO said in a statement.

NATO secretary general stressed that they are in Afghanistan to train and assist and advise the Afghan soldiers so they can take care of security and stability in Afghanistan themselves.
“We are encouraged by what we see now, the progress and talks with Taliban,” the statement added.

In response to a question about troops withdrawal from Afghanistan, NATO said that “We will not stay longer than necessary, but we will not leave before we have a situation which enables to leave or at reduce the number of troops without jeopardizing the main goal of our presence”.
Jen. Stoltenberg added that we are in close contact with the United States and strongly support Khalilzad’s peace efforts.