Nato chief says no rush for troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan

By Katrina Jones May 21st, 2012 ( No Comment )

Chicago: Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said there was no exit strategy yet from Afghanistan before 2014 schedule.

“There will be no rush for the exits (from Afghanistan),” Rasmussen said on Sunday during a news conference in Nato summit, Chicago, AP reported.

“Our goal, our strategy, our timetable remain unchanged,” he added.

Rasmussen was addressing the speculations over a decision by Francois Hollande, newly-elected French president, for early withdrawal of French troops by the end of the year.

Also on Saturday, Rasmussen said NATO troops would stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014, despite international calls for withdrawal of foreign troops from the country.

“The international presence in Afghanistan beyond the NATO-led training mission I would refer to the strategic partnership agreement that was recently approved between the United States and Afghanistan. It also includes some security provisions,” the Western military alliance’s chief told a NATO policy forum in Chicago.

The Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in early May by US President Barack Obama and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai allowed the US troops to stay in the Asian country beyond 2014, Press TV reported.