Situation in Afghanistan remains challenging: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation chief

“We will assess both the security situation and also the capacities and the capabilities of the Afghan national security forces”.

“A number of countries today indicated a willingness to change their plans and posture”, Mr Carter said after a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defence ministers meeting in Brussels.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed the alliance’s support to Afghanistan amid deteriorating security situation in the country. Afghan forces have regained control of the city, which was seized by the Taliban last week, and troops continue to go house-to-house Thursday to clear pockets of remaining insurgents.

“And we continue to support them”.

They also discussed the tragic loss of lives in the Doctors Without Borders hospital.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is leaving the door open for a larger security force in Afghanistan than initially planned after 2016, but officials said Thursday the alliance is waiting for the U.S.to announce its decision, which could come as soon as next week.

Defence ministers meeting in Brussels discussed a timetable for the mission significantly beyond 2016, a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation source said. Mr Carter said he was preparing a USA funding request to sustain Afghan troops at their target peak levels of around 350,000 in 2017 “and beyond”.

“And based on those assessments we will make our decisions”.

Ms Von der Leyen said policy had to adapt to the changing situation on the ground.

The top United States military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Campbell made that argument to Congress Thursday, saying that drawing the force down to 1,000 by the end of next year will limit coalition training and counterterrorism operations.

“This means that we put the responsibility into the Afghans’ hands in a way that they are actually capable to keep their country stable”, she said.