A day before NATO’s Defense Ministers meeting, the head of the alliance Jens Stoltenberg said they are stepping up their commitments and are discussing ways to extend funding to Afghan forces beyond 2020.

Stoltenberg said 3,000 more troops have been sent to Afghanistan in the past few months.

“We will close the Ministerial with a meeting on Afghanistan, together with our Resolute Support partners. Allies and partners are stepping up – with both forces and funding. We have added around 3,000 more trainers to our mission. And we are discussing how to extend funding for the Afghan forces beyond 2020,” he said. 

Stoltenberg said the Taliban should understand that they would gain more through a political settlement with the Afghan government than fighting against them on the battlefield.

“The reason that NATO continues to support Afghan forces is that we have to be able to convince Taliban that they will not win on the battlefield.  Taliban has understood that they will obtain more through a negotiated peace condition than war,” he said. 

Stoltenberg said NATO is expecting the Afghan government to do more on fighting corruption, holding elections and implementing reforms in return for an increased NATO commitment to Afghanistan.

He said the Afghan forces are strengthening day by day and they have prevented the Taliban from reaching their strategic goals. 

Stoltenberg also said they will continue to support the peace process. 

“The Afghan forces are performing with professionalism and bravery. And creating the conditions for a political settlement. So, we must continue to assist them. To support President (Ashraf) Ghani’s bold initiative for peace. And to encourage continued reforms to fight corruption and uphold human rights,” he added. 

He said NATO’s Defense Ministers will meet on Thursday and Friday and will make preparations for the upcoming Summit in July.