BRUSSELS, Belgium -- NATO stressed its continued commitment to its support mission in Afghanistan on Friday (December 21) as Washington prepared to withdraw thousands of US troops.
"Our engagement is important to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorists who could threaten us at home," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said.
A planned withdrawal of some US troops from Afghanistan announced Thursday (December 20) "will not have a security impact because in the last four and a half years the Afghans have been in full control", Haroon Chakhansuri, a spokesperson for President Ashraf Ghani, said via social media.
US-led NATO combat troops withdrew from Afghanistan at the end of 2014, handing responsibility for securing the country to local forces. The combat mission was replaced by NATO's Resolute Support Mission, which trains and advises local Afghan forces fighting Taliban rebels.
