Nato success in Afghanistan is possible

RIGA – Nato’s military operation in Afghanistan will succeed, the alliance’s chief said yesterday, urging member countries not to lose heart despite a strengthening Taliban insurgency and unexpectedly high casualties.

Speaking to a forum before a two-day summit, Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer insisted the alliance will prevail in its first mission outside Europe. He also expressed hoped that by 2008, Afghan forces could begin to take over security tasks.”I would hope that by 2008, we’ll have made considerable progress …(with) effective and trusted Afghan security forces gradually taking control,” he said.Although De Hoop Scheffer predicted that by 2008, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation also will be able to reduce its presence in Kosovo, where about 17,000 peacekeepers are deployed, he said he could not yet envisage drawing down in Afghanistan.”Our exit strategy will depend on Afghanistan having its own security forces,” he said, adding that Nato would launch a training programme for the Afghan army.”Afghanistan is ‘mission possible,”‘ he said.”We need to be frank about the risks, but we also need to avoid overdramatising.Nato has been in Afghanistan for three years – time enough to know what it takes to succeed.”De Hoop Scheffer also called for sweeping reforms to transform Nato into “a major strategic tool for coping with 21st century challenges.””There are still too many messages of the Cold War in the way the Nato is structured,” he said.”Partnerships with nations around the world …hold much potential.The decisions I expect from our summit here should help us unlock this potential.”At its summit in the Latvian capital of Riga, Nato leaders were to focus on the Afghanistan mission as well as explore the possibility of forging closer ties with their Pacific allies.Away from its make-or-break operation in Afghanistan, Nato is also expected to reaffirm its “open-door policy,” reiterating that Croatia, Macedonia and Albania can join when they fulfill all the requirements – but will not give a precise entry date for any of those ex-communist candidates.Nampa-APHe also expressed hoped that by 2008, Afghan forces could begin to take over security tasks.”I would hope that by 2008, we’ll have made considerable progress …(with) effective and trusted Afghan security forces gradually taking control,” he said.Although De Hoop Scheffer predicted that by 2008, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation also will be able to reduce its presence in Kosovo, where about 17,000 peacekeepers are deployed, he said he could not yet envisage drawing down in Afghanistan.”Our exit strategy will depend on Afghanistan having its own security forces,” he said, adding that Nato would launch a training programme for the Afghan army.”Afghanistan is ‘mission possible,”‘ he said.”We need to be frank about the risks, but we also need to avoid overdramatising.Nato has been in Afghanistan for three years – time enough to know what it takes to succeed.”De Hoop Scheffer also called for sweeping reforms to transform Nato into “a major strategic tool for coping with 21st century challenges.””There are still too many messages of the Cold War in the way the Nato is structured,” he said.”Partnerships with nations around the world …hold much potential.The decisions I expect from our summit here should help us unlock this potential.”At its summit in the Latvian capital of Riga, Nato leaders were to focus on the Afghanistan mission as well as explore the possibility of forging closer ties with their Pacific allies.Away from its make-or-break operation in Afghanistan, Nato is also expected to reaffirm its “open-door policy,” reiterating that Croatia, Macedonia and Albania can join when they fulfill all the requirements – but will not give a precise entry date for any of those ex-communist candidates.Nampa-AP