Statement by the NATO Secretary General on Mullah Akhtar Mansur

Under Mullah Mansur's leadership, the Taliban have continued to conduct brutal attacks across Afghanistan, leading to the death and suffering of countless Afghan civilians and security forces, and posing a major daily threat to the forces of the US and other NATO Allies and partners.

Mullah Mansur stood in the way of talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, blocking the prospects for progress towards peace and reconciliation for Afghanistan.

NATO and our partners remain fully committed to our mission to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces, so that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorism.

We support an Afghan-led and owned process for peace and reconciliation, and welcome all efforts in this regard. This is the time for Afghans to talk to Afghans, so that Afghanistan can develop in peace and security.