UAE, Qatar seek to contribute to NATO's Resolute Support Mission

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar are ready to contribute to NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels, "UAE and Qatar are seeking to contribute to Resolute Support. Their presence is a strong symbol of global support for Afghanistan."

Both countries, however, need to give details on how they wish to participate, Stoltenberg said.

Twenty-seven nations have committed to increasing troop numbers in the structure of the Resolute Support Mission in the coming months, TOLO News quoted the NATO chief, as saying.

Hailing, the growing war capabilities of the Afghan Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF), the NATO Secretary General said conventional Afghan security forces have prevented the Taliban from taking provincial capitals this fighting season.

"In addition, NATO allies and partners will continue to provide USD one billion a year to the defence and security forces (of Afghanistan) until at least 2020," he added.

In a separate press conference, Afghanistan's acting Defence Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami said the government welcomes the UAE and Qatar's wish to assist Afghanistan.

Bahrami said, "The government welcomes this offer of support and that their support is important to Afghanistan. They are our friends."

Resolute Support Mission or Operation Resolute Support is a NATO-led train, advise and assist mission consisting of over 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, which began in January, 2015.