“NATO Mission in Afghanistan has achievements”

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The Taliban may have obtained in many regions the upper hand, and the security situation may be tense, Knut Peters, spokesman for NATO’s Resolute Support Mission, sees no reason for pessimism in Afghanistan.

DW: Yesterday, the anniversary of the first U.S. military operation against the terrorist in Afghanistan. After 17 years, the Taliban are again on the rise in Afghanistan. One can speak of a success of the NATO Mission?

Knut Peters: Yes, I think that you can. I even believe, that it can be in a range of examples, describe very clearly. I have been the first Time in Afghanistan in 2002, and I have seen not only the city of Kabul, but the whole country in ruins. I have now spent more than a year of my life in Afghanistan and I have seen refugees from all over the world, mainly from Iran and Pakistan, came back to this country. People who have taken courage to build a new future want to make in this country and the violence, are very clearly rejected. This is something what we have achieved today.

Of course, the security situation in Afghanistan remains difficult and very complex. We experience acts of violence, but we also say quite clearly that the violence can’t solve. NATO is here to give the Afghan government an opportunity to find a political solution. We want to help by training the Afghan police and Afghan armed forces, by giving advice and training.

Resolute Support-spokesman Colonel Knut Peters: “We do not judge our successes to the volatile safety situation”

But the Taliban have extended the areas under their control, it is about 30 percent of the country.

Those who know Afghanistan and I have already said, I was in 2002 for the first Time in this country, and I’ve already spent quite a time here, knows that Numbers are a very difficult thing. The change within days, within weeks and within months. There are a lot of interested parties, the Numbers, you can’t check in Public. Numbers are not of the scale, we are convinced that it is possible to measure the development in Afghanistan. Here it comes to conditions, as one says in English, “condition-based”. Conditions for a political agreement and the elections, which are now before us. That’s where we concentrate and we are also optimistic that this path can be gone.

You have spoken as a sign of the success of the NATO Mission of return of the refugees. At the same time, according to the UN Report, due to the disastrous security situation, hundreds of thousands of internal refugees.

The security situation in Afghanistan is difficult. I just said already. Since there are to sugarcoat anything. It is also equally clear, to whom it is attributable. Those who commit acts of violence, are responsible for this Situation, and for this reason, we support the Afghan government to end the violence and to find ways to find political ways.

According to Afghan media, U.S. Secretary of defense Mattis has proposed to his recent visit in Kabul, Afghanistan, in remote regions of the Taliban. The Afghan security forces should concentrate on the main cities of the provinces and defend them. What is your opinion on this?

This statement is not known to me, so I can’t rate you.

But the fact is that the Taliban control of the rural areas, a total of more than 30 percent of the Afghan territory.

I told you already that the Numbers are a highly volatile matter. Not going to comment on numbers, I for this reason also, because they change daily, hourly and weekly. What I can tell you is that the security situation is highly difficult and the Afghan troops here, with great courage and great commitment to the Taliban. The fact is, and we will support the Afghan government continue to be determined.

NATO does not occur in the elections at the end of October as a protection makes in appearance

20. October holds Afghanistan after several years of delay, parliamentary elections. To what extent can ensure the NATO, the security of the elections?

These elections are a purely Afghan affair. That is why the NATO does not compete in these elections, even in appearance. What we do, and this is not only for months but for over a year, and the Afghan government to advise the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of defense in their planning and concrete preparations for these elections and support. Since it is a matter of safety concepts for the choice of local as well as the provision of election materials. This is in a large country such as Afghanistan is also a logistical challenge and we will support the Afghan government.

DW: the head of The American security company Blackwater makes for some time been advertising for his proposal, leaving the fight against Taliban and ISIS in Afghanistan on private contractors. He was in Kabul representations. What is the Position of NATO on this proposal?

The Position of the NATO to the Afghan government. We are here at the invitation of the Afghan government under a mandate from the United Nations. The Afghan government has expressed in the past few days very clearly. For the government in any way in question and is, therefore, also for us here at NATO.

In the United States have touched on this very clearly. The American General Joseph Votel, the commander of the Central command, has not made a few days ago it very clear that a privatisation of the war was out of the question. The theme is also perfect for us from the table.