NATO allies reaffirmed commitment to “long-term security and stability” in Afghanistan as leaders of the alliance gathered for a summit in London, according to a declaration issued following the two-day meeting on Wednesday.
“All Allies remain committed to the fight against ISIS and our training mission in Iraq and the training mission in Afghanistan,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference following the meeting.
To a question about peace talks with the Taliban, Stoltenberg said that he welcomed the efforts to restart the peace talks. “We believe we need a political solution in Afghanistan,” he said.
Stoltenberg welcomed also efforts to try to “either have some kind of ceasefire and/or at least a reduction in violence.”
US held a year of talks with the Taliban before they were halted by President Donald Trump in September, who cited a deadly attack in Kabul as a reason for it.
Asked if there should be a precondition for restarting the peace talks, Stoltenberg said that he would not be specific on the exact preconditions.
“What I can say is that we are committed to continue to support Afghanistan, because we strongly believe that the best way NATO can support the peace efforts is to train, assist and advise the Afghan security forces, so Taliban understand that they will never win on the battlefield,” Stolteberg said. “They have to sit down and make real and serious compromises on the negotiating table.”
“So we will continue to be in Afghanistan and then we really hope that the peace process will provide us with a credible peace deal.”
