Member of the NATO PA Estonian delegation Sven Mikser presented the Afghanistan Future Report at the Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Tallinn. As a rapporteur of the Defence and Security Committee, he gave an overview of the part played by the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in achieving stability in Afghanistan and in handing over of the responsibility for security to locals in the general report of the committee Afghanistan before and after 2014

Mikser emphasises in the report the considerable success of the ISAF in keeping Taliban under control and in improving stability and the security situation, particularly in the traditionally unstable Southern Afghanistan. The capability of Afghanistan’s own security forces has also improved remarkably over the last few years, largely thanks to the activities of the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A). The report emphasises that despite difficulties and setbacks, the handing over of security responsibility is advancing according to the agreed plan. 

Mikser highlights the importance of the principle of ‘in together, out together’ and underlines the conclusions of the NATO Summit in Chicago, whereby allies must be prepared to contribute to the development of Afghan security forces with training and equipment as well as financing for at least the next ten years. 

The report lists the main challenges to NATO and Afghan security forces as the changed tactics of Taliban and other anti-governmental groups, which now include assassinations of high representatives of the Afghan government and increasingly frequent attempts to infiltrate the Afghan security forces in order to carry out attacks against ISAF fighters. 

Mikser also points out that the long term stability and security of Afghanistan depend largely on the success of political reforms and introduction of good governance and democracy, as well as the development of economy and infrastructures which also demand a contribution from the international community, including Afghanistan’s closest neighbours. 

The report should be adopted on the annual meeting of the NATO PA in Prague. The complete text of the report is available at: http://www.nato-pa.int/default.asp?SHORTCUT=2788

The plenary session of the NATO PA will take place tomorrow, with speeches by the President of the Republic Toomas-Hendrik Ilves, President of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma, President of the NATO PA Karl Lamers and NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow

The Riigikogu Press Service

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