François Hollande insists that French troops will leave the country by the end of 2012. NATO should hand over security responsibility to Afghan troops by the end of 2014. But it will cost 4 billion US dollars a year. The U.S. is ready to bear half the costs. Missile projects to deter Iran.

Chicago (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The NATO countries, meeting in Chicago yesterday, are examining the possibility of leaving Afghanistan as soon as possible. In particular, European countries, marked by economic crisis and a public opinion against the war, want to close the military engagement in Afghanistan, which began in November 2001 with the ouster of the Taliban regime. But after 11 years, the Taliban remain in force in many parts of the country. Earlier this month they carried out attacks on several embassies in the most protected area of ​​Kabul, inaugurating what they call the "spring offensive". In 2011 alone there were more than 3 thousand deaths, mostly the result of Taliban violence.

The new French president François Hollande is insisting that the French troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of this year, almost two years ahead of schedule. NATO has in fact established 2014 as the date for handing over security operations to Afghan forces.

NATO secretary general, Fogh Rasmussen is trying to reassure allies, saying that now the war in Afghanistan has to end, but must also ensure that the Afghans will not be left alone even after 2014. For this reason funding needs to be found to the tune of around 4 billion U.S. dollars annually. The United States is ready to take on more than half of the costs, but President Barack Obama is asking allies to pay 1.3 billion; Afghanistan should contribute 500 million dollars.

The Chicago summit is attended by more than 50 leaders, many from the 28 NATO nations, along with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

According to the U.S., Pakistan's cooperation is needed to isolate the Taliban and to reopen the supply lines, closed last November after a U.S. airstrike that killed Pakistani soldiers.

At today's discussion there is also a plan to implement a system of defense against possible missile attacks from Iran. The plan envisages the deployment of U.S. warships in the Mediterranean and a radar system based in Turkey.

 

• afghanistan
• NATO
• chicago
• troop
• withdrawal
• france
• iran