NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, ahead of a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on March 23 and 24, announced on Monday that “allies will continue consultations on the situation in Afghanistan” and will take stock of NATO’s support for key partners in the Middle East and North Africa.
“Ministers will continue consultations on the situation in Afghanistan, and our military presence, to assess our next steps together,” he said. “There are no easy choices. And, for now, all options remain open. The security situation is difficult.”
He added: “We will take all the necessary measures to keep our troops safe.”
He said that NATO allies strongly support efforts to infuse fresh energy into the peace process.
“This requires all parties to work to achieve progress, to reduce the high levels of violence, and to negotiate in good faith. It also requires constructive engagement from all regional actors and the international community,” he said.
Stoltenberg said that the ongoing peace talks are the best way to preserve the gains made over the last two decades, and to ensure a stable Afghanistan that will not serve as a safe haven for terrorists.
His remarks come as Afghan leaders are expected to attend a UN-led conference in Istanbul next month to discuss the way forward toward peace in Afghanistan.
