From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  NATO is fully committed to its strategy in Afghanistan despite recent challenges, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told journalists in Brussels on 18 September.

“We remain committed to our strategy and we remain committed to our goal of seeing the Afghans fully in charge of their own security by the end of 2014,” he said in answering journalists’ questions after meeting Albanian President Bujar Nishani at NATO Headquarters.

 In response to elevated threat levels in Afghanistan, the commander of ISAF, General John Allen, has put in place temporary reinforced measures to reduce the risk to international forces.

 “I have spoken to General Allen about the measures that he has put in place to protect our troops. These measures are prudent and temporary, in response to the current situation,” the Secretary General said.

 “We have said all along that we will take every step necessary to minimise the risks to our troops, and that’s what we are doing,” he stressed.

 “Our partnership with the Afghan forces continues and we will continue to operate together. So our strategy remains the same. We will continue to partner, to assist, to give advice, to train Afghan security forces,” the Secretary General said.  (photo: NATO)

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