Combat operations in Afghanistan could extend beyond 2014, NATO’s top civilian representative in the country said Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
Speaking to reporters in Kabul, Mark Sedwill said that 2014, the date set for the Afghan government to take over authority, is not a deadline.
“There might still be one or two parts of the country where the transition process is ongoing and that might last into 2015 or beyond,” Sedwill said.
According to Sedwell, both the start of the pullout of U.S. troops in 2011, and the Afghan government’s assumption of authority in 2014 are “intermediate milestones” in a larger mission, the report said.
Sedwell said about 2014 that “It’s not an end of mission. It’s not even a complete change of mission, but it is an inflection point where the balance of the mission would have shifted,” he said.
Speaking to reporters in Kabul, Mark Sedwill said that 2014, the date set for the Afghan government to take over authority, is not a deadline.
“There might still be one or two parts of the country where the transition process is ongoing and that might last into 2015 or beyond,” Sedwill said.
According to Sedwell, both the start of the pullout of U.S. troops in 2011, and the Afghan government’s assumption of authority in 2014 are “intermediate milestones” in a larger mission, the report said.
Sedwell said about 2014 that “It’s not an end of mission. It’s not even a complete change of mission, but it is an inflection point where the balance of the mission would have shifted,” he said.
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