NATO, Afghan leaders say they are ready to move to new phase
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Leaders of Afghanistan and NATO say they are ready to move to a new phase in their relations — the end of NATO-led combat operations in the violence-torn country effective Jan. 1.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah arrived at NATO headquarters on Monday for talks with alliance Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Abdullah said that following the signature by Ghani on Sunday of a status of forces agreement with NATO, the "legal framework is now fully in place" for the U.S. and other alliance member nations to shift in 2015 to a mission of training, advising and assisting Afghanistan's security forces.
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Foreign ministers of the 28 NATO member countries are scheduled to meet Tuesday in Brussels. They are expected to approve the new Afghan mission, named Resolute Support.