KABUL, Afghanistan: The Afghan Taliban have claimed victory against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the US forces during the 13-year war, and said that the launch of the new mission is a clear indication of their defeat and disappointment.
On Sunday, the US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) formally concluded its combat mission in Afghanistan after 13 years while a symbolic ceremony was held at military headquarter in Kabul marking the end of the mission.
The US-led ISAF combat mission will be replaced by a NATO training and support mission called Resolute Support on Thursday.
In a statement on Monday, the Afghan Taliban said that they considered the official ending of the war on Afghanistan to be “a clear indication of their defeat and disappointment.”
“America, its invading allies… along with all international arrogant organizations have been handed a clear-cut defeat in this lopsided war,” Taliban said.
The militant group also warned that it would continue its fight against foreign invaders.
Meanwhile, the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance would continue its financial support for the 350,000 Afghan soldiers and police forces who are to be in control of the country.
The US President Barack Obama also said on Sunday THAT the conclusion of Washington’s combat mission was a “milestone.”
The new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai signed the bilateral security agreements with the United States under which the US troops can remain in the war-torn country beyond the 2014 deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country.
