NATO flag comes down in Afghanistan as combat mission ends

Pull back: A soldier for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) salutes during a ceremony at the ISAF headquarters in Kabul. Photo: AP

Kabul: The 13-year NATO combat mission in Afghanistan formally ended with a ceremonial retirement of its green flag and a pledge by top officials of the United States-led coalition to remain reliable partners in Afghanistan's unfinished war against the Taliban and other militant groups.

Scores of Afghan and foreign officials gathered to witness the symbolic shift to a new, much smaller NATO assistance and training mission. Sunday's event was held in a basketball gym inside NATO headquarters in the Afghan capital and accompanied by a brass band and colour guard.

"Our commitment to Afghanistan endures ... we are not walking away," promised General John Campbell, the US commander of the outgoing International Security Assistance Force combat mission. He will lead the new NATO support mission, which technically begins at midnight on December 31.

Ceremonial exit: US General John Campbell (right), commander of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Photo: Reuters

General Campbell and other Western officials stressed that their chief function under the new mission, named Resolute Support, will be to advise, train and assist Afghan security forces. They said, however, that a separate "non-NATO" contingent of US forces will participate in force protection, logistical support and activities.

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The Taliban responded to the transition event with glee. In a lengthy statement issued by a Taliban spokesman on Sunday night, the insurgent group gloated at the final departure of a "haughty" superpower that "thought it had already won the war and that the Mujaheddin would never ... think of putting up a fight."

The statement said the NATO withdrawal was proof that "the infidel powers who thought they would turn Afghanistan into their strategic colony" had been "pushed to the brink of defeat".

The total number of international troops here, which peaked in 2009 at about 142,000, has gradually dwindled to about 17,000. Under Resolute Support, officials said, 12,500 to 13,500 NATO forces will remain in 2015, including thousands of American troops. The alliance said 28NATO allies and 14 partner nations will contribute in different ways. Officials said about 5,500 US forces will be part of the second contingent, which will be based in Kabul.

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NATO flag comes down in Afghanistan as combat mission ends