Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday a primary focus of NATO‘s defense ministers conference this week will be how to fund Afghanistan’s police and army forces.
Panetta said in a press conference the ministers will also discuss a timeline to withdraw NATO troops from Afghanistan, according to AFPS.
The group previously agreed upon a strategy at NATO’s November 2010 summit in Lisbon, Portugal that called for Afghan forces to take more of a lead role in security.
Pannetta said this transition, which was scheduled to take place by 2014, will be complete by mid-to-late 2013.
“About 50 percent of the population of Afghanistan will now be under Afghan governance and security,†Panetta said. “That’s an important step.â€
Forces will shift from a combat focus to a security and advisory role, according to AFPS.
