NATO member states reaffirmed their commitment Friday to strengthening various institutions in Afghanistan in order to achieve their reconstruction mission, which continues to be hampered by suicide blasts and other insurgent violence.
As foreign ministers of the 26-member NATO kicked off their talks here Friday, the morning session was largely devoted to a discussion on the situation in Afghanistan, NATO spokesman James Appathurai told reporters.
"Here, foreign ministers took a political look at what is happening in Afghanistan in the future, and of course, the NATO engagement," he said.
Admitting it is a long-term commitment, NATO foreign ministers said there was a necessity to strengthen various institutions in order to achieve the mission in Afghanistan.
"Members states of NATO wish to see progress that is being made on strengthening Afghan capacity, not only continue, but to be reinforced," Appathurai said.
"That is both on the political side and military side," he added.
Currently, NATO is leading an international force of some 41,700 troops in Afghanistan, assisting the Afghan authorities in providing security and stability and helping the Afghan security forces to stand on their own.
But the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Afghanistan is facing significant shortfalls in terms of both personnel and equipment.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday he would press Washington's allies in Europe to redouble their efforts in the war-ravaged country.
Appathurai said the foreign ministers did not touch on any concrete plan to invite more military contributions from member states, an issue usually left to defense ministers, but they did call for stronger civilian efforts from the international community, especially the United Nations, the European Union and relevant parties to assist in various Afghan issues.
Source: Xinhua
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