NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged allies to continue a non-combat military presence in Afghanistan and funding for its security forces on the opening day of a summit in Warsaw on Friday.
"I expect heads of state and government to make three important decisions on Afghanistan. First, to continue our military presence, not with combat forces, but with a train, assist and advise mission, so we will continue to train, assist, and advise the Afghan National Army and security forces", he said.
He further said "second, I expect them to make decisions on continued funding of the National Afghan Forces. And thirdly I expect the heads of state and government also to re-confirm our long term political partnership and cooperation with Afghanistan and all these three stands of work are important for us helping Afghanistan, stabilise and securing their own country and also to fight terrorism in Afghanistan and prevent Afghanistan to once again become a safe haven for international terrorists."
President Barack Obama on Wednesday shelved his plans to cut the U.S. force nearly in half by year's end, from 9,800 to 5,500. He opted instead for a more limited withdrawal to roughly 8,400 troops, noting that Afghan forces still needed U.S. support battling the Taliban insurgency after nearly 15 years of war.
Taliban forces now hold more territory in Afghanistan than at any time since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. The IS group has also established a small presence in Afghanistan.