Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says one of NATO's most important missions now is in Afghanistan.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on NATO, 22 Oct 2009She says the alliance must work to help ensure the country does not become a safe haven for the Taliban and al-Qaida.
Albrightcommented Thursday in testimony before the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee, which is discussing the future of the Western-backedalliance. The former secretary of state has been leading a panel ofexperts evaluating NATO's mission.
The committee's chairman,Senator John Kerry, a Democrat from the northeastern state ofMassachusetts, just returned from Afghanistan where he met withPresident Hamid Karzai.
Kerry told the committee he saw"firsthand NATO's single largest present day commitment." He also saidwhile questions remain about the future of the Afghan mission, theconfidence in the "idea and the cohesion of NATO remains strong."
NATOSecretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called for greaterengagement in Afghanistan, saying the battle against insurgents is themost complex challenge the alliance has faced.
Meanwhile,U.S. President Barack Obama is considering a new strategy inAfghanistan, including a request from the top NATO and U.S. commanderin Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, to increase the number oftroops in the country.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
