NATO decides to Afghanistan strategy The use of combat troops is to end in 2013

Everything is going according to plan! This is the message of the NATO summit to withdraw from Afghanistan. France also wants to continue to work hard, even if the combat troops return to their homeland as soon as 2012. The armed forces will remain after 2014, stationed in the Hindu Kush, then with a new UN mandate. The goal is clear: By the end of 2014, the use of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan are finished. In Chicago, the 28 NATO countries agreed with the other 22 States that participate in the Force, as the retreat should be organized. U.S. President Barack Obama announced that should pass until the summer of 2013, all combat troops to the ISAF their responsibilities to the Afghan army and police. By 2014, the foreign troops, the Afghan army will advise and train only. Emergency, but the ISAF is able to end 2014 and still struggling even to ward off attacks by the Taliban or insurgents, said the ISAF commander in Afghanistan, U.S. Gen. John Allen. And NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said: The objective was the war in Afghanistan and stay there to take their terrorist safe haven. "From Afghanistan must never again go out attacks on other nations," Obama made it clear at the beginning of the second day of the Summit again.

Afghanistan needs help until at least 2024

Even after 2014, so keep an anti-terrorism unit under the leadership of the United States in Afghanistan. The extent and exact order has not yet been decided. The American and the Afghan government have signed a partnership agreement. U.S. President Obama reiterated that the agreement runs until 2024.  So long to the ISAF states finance the personnel costs for the Afghan security forces, the Afghan capital, after deducting the share estimated at around 3.6 billion dollars per year.At least half of this sum will pay the United States. Germany wants to participate with 195 million U.S. dollars annually. The Chancellor Angela Merkel had promised Afghan President Hamid Karzai. NATO Secretary General Rasmussen expected in Chicago more concrete commitments by States which are not members of NATO. The actual donor conference, which will also decide on the financing of the civil construction will, in July in Tokyo.

USA withdraws from 23,000 soldiers

ISAF's commander-Allen believes that can be deducted up to the September 2012 about 23 000 American soldiers. Currently the U.S. has stationed about 90,000 troops in Afghanistan. They thus represent the lion's share of the ISAF force, which includes a total of 129 000 men and women. Germany, after the USA and the UK's third-largest troop contributor. The Bundeswehr is currently with 4900 soldiers in northern Afghanistan deployment. After 2014, according to initial estimates from diplomatic circles, probably 1,000 troops remain in Afghanistan to train Afghan soldiers and advise.

Army needs new mandate

The Bundeswehr is responsible for safeguarding the important northern supply route through Uzbekistan and deduction. Therefore it is quite a long time must remain in place until other nations are removed via the northern route. Federal Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in Chicago, with Uzbekistan will just negotiated an agreement. Ammunition and tracked vehicles but should not be transported via the northern route.He announced that the parliament would next year a new mandate for the Bundeswehr mission in Afghanistan from 2015 to decide. The further mission in Afghanistan should run on the basis of a clear legal mandate of the United Nations under the leadership of NATO, de Maiziere. "However, there will be no combat troops anymore, only units in order to protect the trainers."

"Alliance does not fray"

Although France withdraws its combat troops already this year, it will continue to remain engaged in the ISAF. The dispute with France, NATO has largely been settled. Other troops were announced as planned by 2014 as planned to withdraw their troops, said the defense minister.