Afghanistan Foundation Marks Plans For NATO, US Exit

Online, November 30, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Washington, D.C., Mazar-e-Sharif, and Kabul, Afghanistan

The planned pullout of some 40,000 troops by the United States and NATO forces in Afghanistan, , by the end of 2012, was marked today in Washington, D.C. and Kabul as a significant milestone by the Afghanistan Foundation.

"In Washington, the announced withdrawal of about one-third of American and NATO's ISAF force troops in Afghanistan, by the end of 2012, represents a major milestone in the draw-down of international security forces," said Philip Smith, President and Director of the Afghanistan Foundation in Washington, D.C. "The U.S. and NATO troop exit is an important progression in the assumption of key combat responsibilities by the Afghan National Army and police."

The Afghanistan Foundation is a non-profit and non-governmental organization(NGO) focused on research, education, policy analysis, international security,economic development, humanitarian affairs and other issues in Afghanistan-- and
the regions of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. http://www.afghanistanfoundation.net

Over the next 13 months, America is slated to withdrawal 33,000 of its soldiers, or the bulk of NATO's ISAF forces being withdrawn from Afghanistan over the next year.

"Afghanistan's road to self-sufficiency and further control of its national security and sovereignty are issues that are very important to ordinary Afghans and the leaders of the Afghan people," Smith commented.

"President Hamid Karzai and other senior Afghan leaders have repeatedly stressed the importance of Afghanistan's self-sufficiency and national sovereignty," Smith noted.

"Furthermore, major budget concerns in Washington over domestic matters as well as the cost of the ten year war effort by U.S.-led ISAF forces have contributed to a more pragmatic view in Washington regarding the potential accelerated withdrawal of significant numbers of U.S. troops from Afghanistan," Smith stated.

Smith continued: "Many in the Obama Administration and the U.S. Congress, including many of the long-time friends of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C., support a measured draw-down, and orderly withdrawal, of U.S. soldiers and NATO/ISAF forces from Afghanistan in consultation with our Afghan and international allies."

"Security issues in Afghanistan remain serious, however, and more should be done by the United Nations and the international community to help ensure a smooth transition of control to Afghanistan's National Army and security forces," Smith observed. "This includes continued negotiations with Pakistan regarding the recent closure of Pakistan's border crossing points with Afghanistan, including the Khyber Pass, which has prevented NATO convoys from re-supplying ISAF and American soldiers in Afghanistan over the last several days.

The Afghanistan Foundation issued an emergency statement on Saturday, November 26, 2011, expressing deep concern about the reported attack by NATO forces on Pakistani troops, leaving at least 24 dead and 13 wounded, according to military and civil officials in the Khyber Pass tribal area and Islamabad. The Afghanistan Foundation also called upon Pakistan to reopen border crossings with Afghanistan, as soon as possible, following an official investigation of the attack, which is ongoing. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1111/S00781/afghanistan-foundation-criticizes-pakistan-border-closure.htm

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Contact (s):

Ms Homyra Jones or Philip Smith
[email protected]
Tele. (202)543-1444

Afghanistan Foundation
2020 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Suite 220
Washington, D.C. 20006 USA
http://www.afghanistanfoundation.net
http://www.afghanistan-foundation.org