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AFGHANISTAN: The United Kingdom reaffirmed support ot the Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) and confirmed to sustain an annual contribution of £70 until 2020.
The commitment was made by the British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond during the NATO foreign ministerial in Brussels on Friday.
The British Embassy in Kabul, citing Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, said UK will continue to support the Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF).
The statement further added “In a strong show of the UK’s enduring commitment to Afghanistan, Mr Hammond confirmed that Britain would provide £210 million to sustain its contribution of £70 million per year until 2020.”
“The Warsaw Summit in July will be an important moment for the international community to recommit to supporting Afghanistan’s security and stability. The UK will provide £210 million to sustain its commitment of £70 million per year towards the Afghan National Security and Defence Forces – a strong signal of our enduring commitment to Afghanistan,” Hammond said.
He also added “We also look to partners in NATO’s Resolute Support Mission to join us in demonstrating the Alliance’s continuing resolve.”
The statement by the British Embassy said, At the Wales NATO Summit in 2014, the UK joined other international partners in reaffirming its commitment, first made at the Chicago Summit in 2012, to provide long term support to the ANDSF as they develop their capacity and become self–sustaining.
The UK is currently contributing £70 million per year over 2015-2017 to the Law and Order Trust Fund (Afghanistan). The £210 million announced today means that this level of support for the ANDSF will now continue until 2020, the statement added. -KP
THE PASHTUN TIMES
