NATO chief stresses support for Afghanistan

KABUL, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Anders Fogh Rasmussen, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said here Tuesday that the NATO troops would not withdraw from Afghanistan until the nation would be able to take on its own security responsibility.

Visiting NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) shakes hands with Afghan President Hamid Karzai after a joint news conference at the presidential palace in Afghan capital Kabul, Dec. 22, 2009. (Xinhua/Zabi Tamanna)

The NATO chief made the remarks at the joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace here.

"I am here to reaffirm my and the NATO commitment to protect the Afghan people, " Rasmussen said, adding that the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will assist the gradual transition of the security responsibility from the foreign troops to the Afghan army and police.

"The year 2010 will see a new momentum here," said the NATO chief.

He said the NATO forces will shift the strategic focus to the protection of the population, adding that the international forces will also help with the training of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan police forces.

The troop surge in the short term will do good to the country, said the NATO chief, who, however, stressed that there would be no military solution solely to the Afghan issue.

Rasmussen said he paid a visit to Russia last week and had "constructive talks" with the Russian leaders on Afghanistan.

He asked for aid for Afghanistan from the Russian side while the Russians have yet to make any pledge.