NATO will remain in Afghanistan after 2014, says Clinton

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today that NATO will remain in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 2014.

A small number of troops remain in the territory, subject to the Afghan government, to train, advise and assist the national forces to continue the fight against terrorism, said the U.S. diplomat.

We want to assure the Afghan people, and all the insurgents in the region: NATO not abandon Afghanistan, Clinton said in Norfolk, Virginia, paid a visit to a command center of the Atlantic Alliance, reported the Daily Press.

Next May will discuss how to maintain the relationship between NATO and Afghanistan after the troop withdrawal during the summit of the organization in Chicago, 20 and 21 this month, said Clinton.

The negotiations relating to a strategic partnership between Washington and Kabul will be defined before the conclave, he said. On Tuesday, a U.S. official said the United States and Afghanistan are close to agreement on how to handle the issue of night raids in the Asian country and control of prisoners.

However, both countries have disagreements about how long the ISAF troops can keep those prisoners persons arrested, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Washington, however, keep pressing to get longer while wielding that inmates can provide key intelligence on insurgent activities, said the Army Times newspaper.

If realized the pact, United States would have a specific item to be presented to the conclave in the call Windy City, which should see more than 50 heads of state members of the Atlantic Alliance.

Among the main topics of the meeting included the discussion of plans to put end to the war launched by the United States for more than a decade after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.