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NATO flag lowered in Afghanistan as combat mission ends NATO flag lowered in Afghanistan as combat mission ends
(about 1 hour later)
KABUL — The 13-year NATO combat mission in Afghanistan formally ended Sunday with a ceremonial retirement of its green flag and a pledge by top officials of the U.S.-led coalition to remain long-term partners in Afghanistan’s war against the Taliban and international terrorism.KABUL — The 13-year NATO combat mission in Afghanistan formally ended Sunday with a ceremonial retirement of its green flag and a pledge by top officials of the U.S.-led coalition to remain long-term partners in Afghanistan’s war against the Taliban and international terrorism.
Several hundred Afghan and foreign officials gathered to witness the formal shift to a new, much smaller NATO assistance and training mission, which was held in a basketball gym inside NATO headquarters here and accompanied by a brass band and a color guard. Several hundred Afghan and foreign officials gathered to witness the formal shift to a new, much smaller NATO assistance and training mission. The ceremony was held in a basketball gym inside NATO headquarters here in the Afghan capital and accompanied by a brass band and a color guard.
“Our commitment to Afghanistan endures. . . . We are not walking away,” promised Gen. John F. Campbell, the U.S. commander of the outgoing International Security Assistance Forces mission, who will remain in command of the new NATO support role here that technically begins at midnight Wednesday. “Our commitment to Afghanistan endures. . . . We are not walking away,” promised Gen. John F. Campbell, the U.S. commander of the outgoing International Security Assistance Forces mission, who will lead the new NATO support role, which technically begins at midnight Wednesday.
Campbell and other Western officials stressed that from now on, their function under the new mission, called Resolute Support, will be mainly to advise, train and assist Afghan security forces. However, they said a separate contingent of U.S. forces will provide security, logistical support and some counterterrorism activities. Campbell and other Western officials stressed that their function under the new mission, called Resolute Support, will be mainly to advise, train and assist Afghan security forces. However, they said a separate contingent of U.S. forces will provide security and logistical support and perform some counterterrorism activities.
The total number of international troops here, which peaked in 2009 with about 142,000, has gradually shrunk to about 17,000. Under Resolute Support, officials said, a total of 12,000 NATO forces will remain through the end of 2015, including about 5,000 Americans. An additional 5,500 U.S. forces will operate in the second separate role. The total number of international troops here, which peaked in 2009 with about 142,000, has gradually shrunk to about 17,000. Under Resolute Support, officials said, 12,000 NATO forces will remain through the end of 2015, including about 5,000 Americans. An additional 5,500 U.S. forces will operate in the second separate role.