NATO warns Afghan success not yet assuredBy David Brunnstrom
BRUSSELS, June 11 (Reuters) - NATO warned on Friday of tough times ahead in Afghanistan and said success was not yet assured in its struggle against a widening Taliban insurgency.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told a meeting of defence ministers of the 28 NATO states the alliance force in Afghanistan was facing fierce resistance from insurgents in the Taliban heartlands of Helmand and Kandahar provinces.
A statement by the ministers said military operations were making "measured progress" in extending the reach of the Afghan government and marginalising the insurgency. However, it added:
"Significant challenges remain, and success is not yet assured."
Rasmussen said NATO needed to step up its training effort to allow the start of a handover of security responsibility to Afghan forces, hopefully by the end of the year. But he said NATO's commitment would be long term.