After meeting with the NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Friday, the U.S. President Barack Obama said that the alliance will hold a summit on Afghanistan next year to chalk out a withdrawal plan of combat troops.
"What we agreed to is that in order for us to facilitate this entire process, it would be appropriate for us to have another NATO summit next year," said Obama after an Oval Office meeting with the NATO secretary on Friday.
"We are now looking, over the next several weeks, to a new milestone, one that was set in Chicago, where we are transitioning to Afghan lead for combat operations in Afghanistan," said the U.S. President according to the US Today.
NATO combat operations in the country are set to be withdrawn by the end of 2014, but the secretary of the alliance said that some of the U.S. and its troops will remain beyond that date in a bid to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces.
"We are determinedly moving towards our goal: an Afghanistan that can stand on its own feet. But the Afghans will not stand alone," said Anders Fogh Rasmussen. "We are prepared for an enduring partnership with the Afghan people."
The date and location of the summit is yet to be decided and the NATO secretary is looking for a host country, according to the U.S. President.
The last NATO summit was held in Chicago last May.
