For immediate release
4 September 2014

PRESS RELEASE
PR/CP(2014)0121

WALES SUMMIT DECLARATION ON AFGHANISTAN
Issued by Heads of State and Government of Allies and their
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troop contributing partners

1. Today we honoured Afghan and international personnel who have lost their lives or
been injured while serving in the largest military coalition in recent history. We also pay
tribute to the hundreds of thousands of military and civilian personnel who have served
with ISAF and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) over the past thirteen
years. Their sacrifices and efforts have made all of our nations safer and improved
global security. For that, we are grateful.
2. ISAF has assisted the Afghan people to regain control over their nation’s destiny. It has
enabled Afghanistan to develop its security capabilities. It has helped Afghanistan
make significant advances in education, health, economic development, human rights
and fundamental freedoms, notably for women. Moreover, ISAF has demonstrated
political solidarity among our nations and improved our ability to act and operate
together.
3. ISAF will conclude at the end of 2014 as planned. For over a year, the ANSF have
been in the lead for combat operations throughout the country. Although many
challenges remain, they have demonstrated that they are an effective force, gaining the
respect and confidence of the Afghan people and able to prevent insurgents from
achieving their objectives. When ISAF operations end, the Afghan authorities will
assume full responsibility for security. However, our commitment to Afghanistan will
endure beyond ISAF along with our determination to ensure that we are never again
threatened by terrorists from within Afghanistan.
4. With the end of ISAF, the nature and scope of our engagement with Afghanistan will
change. We envisage three parallel, mutually reinforcing, strands of activity:
a. In the short term, the Resolute Support Mission. As decided at the Chicago Summit
in 2012, at the invitation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan, and in the context of the broader international effort to help

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Afghanistan, NATO Allies and partner nations stand ready to continue to train,
advise and assist the ANSF after 2014. This will be done through a new, noncombat mission with a sound legal basis. The mission’s establishment is
contingent on the signing of the U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Security Agreement
and NATO-Afghanistan Status of Forces Agreement. The Resolute Support
Mission should ideally, in consultation with the Government of Afghanistan, be
supported by a United Nations Security Council Resolution.
b. In the medium term, our contribution to the financial sustainment of the ANSF. At
Chicago, NATO allies and ISAF partners decided to provide support to the
ANSF, as appropriate, through the Transformation Decade, on the understanding
that the Afghan Government will make an increasing financial contribution to this
endeavour. Today, nations renewed their financial commitments to support the
sustainment of the ANSF, including to the end of 2017. We also urge the wider
international community to remain engaged in the financial sustainment of the
ANSF. We will maintain and strengthen the transparent, accountable and costeffective funding mechanisms we have established since Chicago, including the
Oversight and Coordination Body, which will ensure donors can confidently
commit this support. Realising the full promise of the pledges made at Chicago
on the financial sustainment of the ANSF, which we have reaffirmed today, will
require transparency, accountability, and cost-effectiveness of the relevant
international funding mechanisms. We encourage the Afghan Government to
continue and strengthen efforts to fight corruption. We look forward to working
with the Afghan authorities to review the force structure and capabilities of the
ANSF to achieve a sufficient and sustainable force. We restate the aim, agreed
at Chicago, that Afghanistan should assume, no later than 2024, full financial
responsibility for its own security forces.
c. In the long term, NATO-Afghanistan Enduring Partnership. NATO Allies remain
committed to the NATO-Afghanistan Enduring Partnership, agreed at the Lisbon
Summit in 2010. The strengthening of this partnership will reflect the changing
nature of NATO’s relationship with Afghanistan whilst complementing the
Resolute Support Mission and continuing beyond it. Both the political and
practical elements of this partnership should be jointly owned and strengthened
through regular consultation on issues of strategic concern. NATO is ready to
work with Afghanistan to develop this partnership in line with NATO’s Partnership
Policy, possibly including the development of an Individual Partnership
Cooperation Programme at an appropriate time.
5. We will continue to support an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and inclusive peace process,
as stated at the 2011 Bonn Conference and at the Chicago Summit in 2012. We
welcome efforts by all parties that further this process.

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6. Good neighbourly relations, as well as regional support and cooperation will remain
essential. This has been strengthened notably by the Istanbul Process in the Heart of
Asia region.
7. A stable Afghanistan will be able to make a positive contribution to the wider region
including through delivering progress in the fight against narcotics trafficking, illegal
migration, terrorism and crime.
8. We are resolved to support Afghanistan in making further progress towards becoming
a stable, sovereign, democratic and united country, where rule of law and good
governance prevail and in which human rights, and notably those of children, are fully
protected. We emphasize the particular importance of strengthening efforts to
implement the rights of women and the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on
Women, Peace and Security, and to include women fully in political, peace and
reconciliation processes. We further recognize the need for the protection of children
from the damaging effects of armed conflict as required in relevant United Nations
Resolutions. We also welcome continued work to strengthen the protection of civilians
by all parties concerned. Thus, we are committed to continue working with Afghanistan
to further strengthen these values and principles.
9. Today we have extended significant offers of support and partnership to Afghanistan
as it determines its own future. We remain steadfast and resolute in our commitment to
the Afghan people.

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