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NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Afghan President Hamid Karzai will likely leave the signing of a security pact with the US to his successor. Rasmussen says he believes that Karzai will not sign the long-stalled pact until April\'s presidential election. The deal would allow American troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the withdrawal deadline of the end of 2014. Rasmussen has acknowledged that NATO expects a separate pact with Kabul which would be impossible without a deal with the U-S. Back in November, Karzai told an assembly of elders known as the Loya Jirga that he will not sign the deal until certain conditions are met. He\'s demanded that the US immediately stop its military operations on Afghan homes.

NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Afghan President Hamid Karzai will likely leave the signing of a security pact with the US to his successor. Rasmussen says he believes that Karzai will not sign the long-stalled pact until April\'s presidential election. The deal would allow American troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the withdrawal deadline of the end of 2014. Rasmussen has acknowledged that NATO expects a separate pact with Kabul which would be impossible without a deal with the US. Back in November, Karzai told an assembly of elders known as the Loya Jirga that he will not sign the deal until certain conditions are met. He\'s demanded that the US immediately stop its military operations on Afghan homes.

The death toll among foreign soldiers in Afghanistan is rising. According to the latest count of US war dead in Afghanistan, Soldier deaths now is above 2120 At least 52 of them were killed this year in \"insider attacks\" by Afghan government forces or Taliban forces. The southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand have proven to be the most deadly areas for US troops. About half of US soldiers have died in those regions. Experts say even strategic areas such as key highways in the region are still not secure. It\'s very clear that they can\'t hold on to that highway and prevent Taliban from planting IEDs and prevent severe consequences for US troops. Although it is Afghan civilians who are the number one victims of the US so-called war on terror, US troop casualties are persistent. This is despite the 33,000 additional U.S. troops that withdrew from Afghanistan after troop size was increased after the surge. The rising casualty rate has not been lost on the American public. The call for troops to come home grows louder from Congress to the internet. This letter urging for the immediate withdrawal of US troops was posted over the weekend saying: During his monthly press conference in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen commented on recent \"insider attacks\" in Afghanistan. Rasmussen says that insider attacks are forcing US-led troops to rethink their system of training Afghans-- as the Taliban have adapted their strategy to weaken western forces. Military officials say they have made broad improvements in fighting the Taliban. However, the rising death toll of US troops and the increase of insider attacks has many left thinking that the time for US troops complete withdrawal is well overdue.

[15 June 2012] Syria A global compass - Middle East Today - English With the events in Syria taking more violent turn by hour, a call for political solution has been the most resonant among the world leaders, despite calls from some Arab and western states for supporting and arming the opposition groups. NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called for a political solution to end the crisis in Syria, saying foreign military intervention is not the right path. Now that the entire world is scrutinizing the situation in Syria to see how it impacts the rest of the region, this edition of Middle East Today reviews the latest developments in Syria with political analysts and experts.

[2 Sept 2013] NATO seeks no direct role in any military strike on Syria - English

NATO is holding one of its largest post-Cold War military drills near Russia\'s borders. Poland and the Baltic states are hosting the war games launched on Saturday. Code-named \"Steadfast Jazz\", the exercises involve some SIX thousand troops from NATO as well as non-member states such as Finland, Sweden and Ukraine. Around half of them will participate in live exercise training, which will involve armor, aircraft and naval vehicles. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the week-long war games are designed to prepare forces to defend any ally from an unidentified foreign invader. NATO\'s recent actions have raised tensions in the region. Russia has already expressed concerns over NATO\'s missile and radar deployments in Eastern Europe calling them threats to its security.

[05 Sep 2014] NATO summit ends after discussing ISIL, Ukraine crises - English