NATO to Allot $60Mln to Afghan Security Forces, Stay After 2016

ANTALYA (Sputnik) — NATO will allocate $60 million to Afghan national forces to uphold security, while international presence will remain in the Central Asian country after 2016, Turkey's prime minister announced Wednesday.

"We will contribute $60 million for the financial sustainment of the Afghan nation's security and defense forces over the 2015-2017 period," Ahmet Davutoglu said at the opening of the NATO ministerial talks in Turkey's Antalya.

Citing the fragility of achievements made by the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) over the past 13 years, the Turkish prime minister argued for continued international presence in Afghanistan after 2016.

"We need to consolidate our achievements and continue to help the Afghan authorities to implement the needed reforms during the transformation decade."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed the plan to keep an international presence in Afghanistan, explaining that the military alliance's mission will be civilian-led with a small military contingent.

Davutoglu added that Ankara will assume responsibility for the international airport in Kabul in addition to its role within the Resolute Support non-combat advisory mission.

"We will support Afghanistan both bilaterally and including through NATO, as long as it is necessary and the Afghan people so require," Davutoglu stressed.

NATO's combat operations wrapped up on December 31, 2014, with the Resolute Support mission of some 12,500 soldiers left to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces.