Nato's Afghanistan strategy

NATO has said it will hand over security in Afghanistan to national forces by the end of 2014.
Opening the second day of a major summit in Lisbon, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance would not abandon the country in fighting the Taliban.
"Today marks the beginning of a new phase in our mission in Afghanistan," he said.
"If the enemies of Afghanistan have the idea that they can just wait it out until we leave, they have the wrong idea. We will stay as long as it takes to finish our job."
The summit is being attended by representatives from 48 countries.
NATO will also meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during the summit, and will discuss Russian assistance in the conflict and an alliance missile shield.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has set 2014 as the date he wants his forces to have full security responsibility.
President Barack Obama, who has sent 30,000 more US troops to the war in the past year to try to quell the Taliban-led insurgency, intends to start withdrawing some forces from July 2011 and backs the aim of an end to combat within four years.
He also supports efforts at reconciliation with the Taliban.
Rasmussen said the new strategy did not mean all 150,000 foreign troops now deployed in Afghanistan would leave the country by the 2014 deadline.
"Let there be no doubt about our continuing commitment. Afghanistan's fight against terrorism is of strategic, global importance," the former Danish prime minister said.

"Which is why we will agree here today a long-term partnership between NATO and Afghanistan to endure beyond the end of our combat mission."