Afghan security forces are well-integrated, US commander of international forces in Afghanistan said on Friday.
Speaking at a press conference with Afghan Acting Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid following NATO’s defense ministerial meeting in Brussels, General Scott Miller said that the recent election’s success from security standpoint was the integration of intelligence services, police and army services.
Miller said that NATO’s partnership with Afghanistan remains “very strong” and that the alliance’s recent meeting reiterated its commitment to its mission in the country.
He said that the ministers discussed also about Afghanistan peace process.
Meanwhile, Afghan Acting Defense Minister Khalid said that NATO members reiterated commitment to help Afghan forces and appreciated their achievements.
US President Donald Trump halted peace talks with the Taliban last month after the group claimed responsibility for a deadly attack in Kabul just as a deal was nearing.
Miller said that reduction of violence will be important as “we work to find a political solution for the end of this conflict.”
On Daesh, Miller said that the group is a threat not only to Afghanistan but to the region and the world.
He said that Daesh was communicating with Daesh in Syria.
Earlier this week, Miller reportedly said that the size of US force in Afghanistan had dropped by 2,000 over the last year.
On Friday, he clarified that the reduction was not based on a formal order.
“We haven’t changed our authorities, we don’t have orders to reduce our forces,” Miller said. “Clearly, there is desire to make sure that we have a sustainable presence, that we have what we need, don’t have extra things but have what we need as we go forward.”
