NATO remains committed to Afghanistan: Spokesman

KABUL - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will continue to remain committed to the conflict-ridden Afghanistan, the civilian spokesman of the alliance said here Monday.

"NATO will remain committed to Afghanistan. NATO will not abandon Afghanistan. NATO will have a long term friendship with Afghanistan," Dominic Medley told journalists at a press briefing here.

He made the remarks while the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is going to complete its withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, leaving the Afghan security forces to shoulder security responsibility of their country independently.

However, the spokesman went on to say that the NATO-led ISAF's main effort will shift from combat to support Afghan security forces.

"By the end of 2014, the Afghan forces will be fully responsible for security in their country and NATO's commitment to support them continues," Medley added.

He also said that the 50 Defense Ministers of NATO and ISAF nations, along with Afghanistan's Minister for Defense and representatives from the United Nations and the European Union, will meet Tuesday and on Wednesday at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and ISAF mission there beyond 2014.