NATO PLAN FOR ALL AFGHAN OPTION
INCLUDING PULLOUT
NATO
must plan for all options, including a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan,
but prefers an agreement with Kabul on a continued troop presence, according to
the head of the military alliance.
But
if there is no US-Afghan agreement, there can be no NATO – Afghan deal and if
there is no agreement there will be no NATO troops in Afghanistan after 2014.
The
deal would lay down the legal basis for continued US and NATO troops presence
in the form of a training mission post 2014.
It
is expected to number up to 12000 troops, mostly American and is seen as an
important guarantee of continued US and NATO support during a difficult
transition period.
In
2011, Washington withdraw all its forces from Iraq when it could not secure an
agreement with Baghadad and there are fears a similar outcome in Afghanistan
could leave the way clear for the Taliban to return to power.
Several
Afghan presidential candidates have indicated they would sign and the deal has
also been endorsed by a council of tribal elders. On the other hand, it is said
that Washington was not certain a future government would do the deal.
