NATO FMs set to discuss new Afghan mission

BRUSSELS (Pajhwok): NATO foreign ministers are set to meet President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday to discuss the launch of the new Resolute Support mission.

The mission to train, advise and assist Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF campaign against militants ends.

Ahead of the talks, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters here they were going to hold the first meeting of NATO ministers with partners in the Resolute Support mission.

“I had excellent talks both with President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah yesterday. They will join us at the meeting today,” he said, calling their presence a strong sign of the importance of the mutual commitment.

EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan Nicholas Hayson are also scheduled attend the daylong talks.

Earlier in the day, the foreign ministers announced that an interim Spearhead Force would be operational early next year to improve the alliance’s readiness and agreed to maintain a continuous presence in the eastern part of NATO.

“We are going to implement the Readiness Action Plan on time and in full,” said Jens Stoltenberg. he ministers discussed progress in implementing the plan at their meeting.

The plan is a response to the changed security environment in Europe including Russia’s aggressive actions in and around Ukraine.

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