NATO allies decided on Wednesday to start withdrawing forces from Afghanistan by May 1. The process is expected to take a few months to complete.
“Our drawdown will be orderly, coordinated, and deliberate,” Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated on Wednesday, in a joint press conference with the US Secretaries of State and Defense.
He stressed the unity of NATO allies in their two missions in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years, the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF): “We went into Afghanistan together, we have adjusted our posture together, and we are united in leaving together.”
The announcement followed a virtual meeting of foreign and defence ministers of NATO allies.
Albania’s Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs, Niko Peleshi and Olta Xhacka praised the joint decision of allies
“Albania fully supports today’s NATO decision on the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. Time has come for the Afghan people and political forces to get ownership of the peace process. Albania is ready to withdraw its troops, in concert and coordination with the Allies.” Xhacka tweeted.
Peleshi paid homage to Captain Feti Vogli who was killed in an attack in Afghanistan in 2012.
NATO has nearly 9,600 troops stationed in Afghanistan, and it lost more than 3,500 troops since the invasion of the country in 2001.
“Allies and partners will continue to stand with the Afghan people, but it is now for the Afghan people to build a sustainable peace,” Stoltenberg said.
