US, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation signal willingness to slow Afghan drawdown

“If we are there, then I do think these other countries will contribute”, Thornberry said.

The top United States commander in Afghanistan on Thursday estimated that more than half of Taliban insurgents could be open to peace talks with the Afghan government, but that negotiations probably won’t resume for months. And a decision is not expected to be announced imminently, said USA officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren’t allowed to discuss administration thinking.

Thursday’s conversations touched on both funding and troop levels in Afghanistan beyond 2016, he added. And he warned about a rise of Islamic State militants (ISIS) in Afghanistan.

“U.S. leadership is what matters”.

He said drawing the force down to 1 000 by the end of next year will limit coalition training and counter-terrorism operations.

Afghanistan has extremely limited close air support capability, Campbell said, and is up against an enemy who is taking advantage of gaps in security and the reduced worldwide military presence.

“Since 2001 the exceptional efforts and courage of our forces have ensured that another terrorist attack originating from Afghanistan and directed against the USA homeland has not occurred”, Campbell said.

It was only a few years ago that soaring antiwar sentiment across Europe had many countries looking to set a firm deadline on the war, but it seems that setting the deadline calmed the public enough that many believe they can now simply push the bar back and no one will really notice.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters flatly: “I sense that many allies are willing to stay longer if needed”.

He also added “So what is certain is that we will continue to support the Afghans but we are constantly assessing in what form and in what way we will do that”.

Germany’s defence minister said North Atlantic Treaty Organisation troops may need to stay longer and pointed directly to the fighting in Kunduz.

After the hearing, committee chairman, Representative Mac Thornberry, a Republican, said North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries are going to follow the US. “Anywhere in this part of the world where we can build an ally and a stable presence, I think we should do it at this time”.

“If we withdraw from Afghanistan, the security vacuum will arise and other extremist networks such as [ISIL] could rapidly expand and sow unrest throughout Central and South Asia and potentially target our homeland”, the general said.