Nato chief: Success in Afghanistan is possible
Nato’s military operation in Afghanistan can be successful, the alliance’s chief said today, 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 due to begin later today in Latvia, Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer insisted the alliance will prevail in its first mission outside Europe. “Afghanistan is mission possible," he said.
“We need to be frank about the risks, but we also need t avoid overdramatising.”
He also 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. “Nato has been in Afghanistan for three years – time enough to know what it takes to succeed,” de Hoop Scheffer added.
“Afghanistan is Nato’s first mission outside Europe, but it will certainly not be the last.”
He also called for sweeping reforms within the North Atlantic Trety Organisation to turn it into “a major strategic tool for coping with 21st century challenges".
