In a stopover in Afghanistan recently, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of troops be done with caution.
U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates urged NATO and its allies on Thursday to avoid hasty exit from Afghanistan, though Americans getting ready to begin to withdraw troops next month.
U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates delivered a clear message to its allies in NATO in relation to the changes that will be facing their mission in Afghanistan in July.
"Although the United States began to withdraw its troops next month, I believe Americans do not rush out and we expect the same of our allies," Gates said.
Gates said this to reporters Thursday after attending his last meeting with NATO in Brussels before retiring as defense minister on 30 June.
U.S. President Barack Obama remains committed to begin withdraw troops from Afghanistan next month, but it is still unclear how many U.S. troops will be withdrawn.
In a recent trip, which included a stopover in Afghanistan, Secretary Gates has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of troops be done with caution.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday refused to confirm a time limit or number of troops will be withdrawn, he stressed NATO or its allies "do not need to rush out".
He said Afghanistan remained a "top priority of NATO operation" and estimates that the Afghan government will take full security responsibility in the coming years.
"In July, Afghanistan will lead the security responsibilities in seven provinces and several districts, representing 25 percent of the population. That was the beginning of an important transition. I'm sure we can attract a whole army by the year 2014, "said Rasmussen.
Defense Secretary Gates said the end of the war in Afghanistan began to look, because of the success achieved in the last 18 months. However, violence continued in southern and eastern Afghanistan, where Taliban militants launched an attack against the government and Afghan security forces.
U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates urged NATO and its allies on Thursday to avoid hasty exit from Afghanistan, though Americans getting ready to begin to withdraw troops next month.
U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates delivered a clear message to its allies in NATO in relation to the changes that will be facing their mission in Afghanistan in July.
"Although the United States began to withdraw its troops next month, I believe Americans do not rush out and we expect the same of our allies," Gates said.
Gates said this to reporters Thursday after attending his last meeting with NATO in Brussels before retiring as defense minister on 30 June.
U.S. President Barack Obama remains committed to begin withdraw troops from Afghanistan next month, but it is still unclear how many U.S. troops will be withdrawn.
In a recent trip, which included a stopover in Afghanistan, Secretary Gates has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of troops be done with caution.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday refused to confirm a time limit or number of troops will be withdrawn, he stressed NATO or its allies "do not need to rush out".
He said Afghanistan remained a "top priority of NATO operation" and estimates that the Afghan government will take full security responsibility in the coming years.
"In July, Afghanistan will lead the security responsibilities in seven provinces and several districts, representing 25 percent of the population. That was the beginning of an important transition. I'm sure we can attract a whole army by the year 2014, "said Rasmussen.
Defense Secretary Gates said the end of the war in Afghanistan began to look, because of the success achieved in the last 18 months. However, violence continued in southern and eastern Afghanistan, where Taliban militants launched an attack against the government and Afghan security forces.
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