NATO Commander Says 'Not Losing' in Afghanistan

ANCHOR:
And in the Middle East, the commander of international troops in Afghanistan says NATO is not losing the war against the Taliban.

STORY:
At a news conference on Sunday, NATO Commander General David McKiernan said that -- despite setbacks -- NATO was not losing the war against the Taliban.

[David Mckiernan, NATO Commander General]:
"We don't have progress as evenly or as fast as any of us would like but we are not losing in Afghanistan."

Spiraling and seemingly unending violence in Afghanistan has led to a number of military and political leaders issuing dire warnings for the country.

And Mckiernan says NATO needs more than extra troops to get the job done.

[David Mckiernan, NATO Commander General]:
"And we certainly need more military forces here but I will be the first to tell you that additional military forces by themselves will not guarantee victory for the Afghan people. It must come along all three of those lines of operation again. Better governance at all levels, economic, socio-economic progress and security for the people."

In the latest wave of violence, on Sunday Afghan and NATO-led forces killed 65 Taliban militants, who were preparing to attack a provincial capital.

Category:

News & Politics

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• ntd
• NATO
• Afghanistan
• Middle
• East
• Taliban
• war
• militar