KABUL – NATO will reaffirm its commitment to the post-transition Afghanistan in its summit in Chicago later this month - the largest ever meeting of the alliance in which Afghanistan is expected to be one of the key topics of discussion, a NATO spokesman said Monday.
"NATO is clearly committed to supporting Afghanistan beyond 2014, when the gradual transition of responsibility for the security of the country from ISAF troops to Afghan forces will be fully implemented," NATO spokesman in Afghanistan Dominic Medley said at a press conference in Kabul.

Chicago is the 25th summit of the alliance which takes place every two years. In the previous summit in Lisbon, NATO agreed to start transitioning lead responsibilities for security to the Afghan forces.
The Chicago summit will principally focus on three main themes, Medley said: NATO's commitment to Afghanistan through the transition and beyond, ensuring Afghanistan has the capabilities it needs to defend its population and territory and to deal with the challenges of the 21st century, and strengthening NATO's network of partners across the globe.

Afghanistan will be discussed in a number of meetings during the two-day summit in which around 60 heads of states and international organizations are expected to attend, including the United Nations, World Bank and European Union.

ISAF-member countries are also attending the summit.
"The summit is likely to issue a communiqué and a declaration with Afghanistan from the ISF nations," Medley added.

The key decision expected to be made in Chicago is the number of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) beyond 2014 and the level of financial support to be made for sustainability of the ANSF by NATO and the rest of the international community.

In a meeting last month in Brussels, ISAF defense and foreign ministers proposed that the international community should provide $4.1 billion annually to sustain around 230,000 Afghan forces after the transition is completed.

ISAF's mission is expected to finish by the end of 2014 and a new mission with a new name will replace NATO's post-ISAF engagement.
"NATO will support Afghanistan after transition is completed, NATO will continue to train, advise and assist in Afghanistan and NATO and ISAF partners will carry a fair share of funding the Afghan National Security Forces and this is a commitment for the whole international community," Medley said. (Tolo News)