Brussels, Sep 3: NATO “fully supports” US efforts in the Afghan peace process, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday after holding talks with Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, on the arrangments taking shape with the militant group in Afghanistan.
According to Dawn, Pompeo met NATO chief in Brussels as the United States made efforts to finalize a deal with the Taliban to put an end to the 18-year-long civil war and crisis in war-torn Afghan nation, under which the US is expected to withdraw 5,400 American troops from the region in exchange for security guarantees from the militants.
“Great discussion with @SecPompeo on current security issues. #NATO fully supports efforts to achieve peace in #Afghanistan. I condemn recent horrific attacks & NATO remains committed to supporting Afghan forces,” Stoltenberg tweeted.
Great discussion with @SecPompeo on current security issues. #NATO fully supports efforts to achieve peace in #Afghanistan. I condemn recent horrific attacks & NATO remains committed to supporting Afghan forces. pic.twitter.com/8Adf6vw4xd
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) September 3, 2019
Pompeo’s meeting with NATO came as part of his official two-day visit to Brussels, during which he also met with the newly elected European Union (EU) leadership, including council elected-president Ursula Von Der Leyen and incoming EU Council president Charles Michel.
Michel, after concluding the meeting with US secretary of state, stated they discussed “shared values and common interests”.