KABUL: Afghanistan may have to send only its defence minister to a NATO summit that will decide on future support because of an impasse over the presidential election, officials said Sunday.
The deadlock over the fraud-tainted election has left Afghanistan in paralysis as two rival candidates battle to succeed outgoing President Hamid Karzai, who has declined to attend the NATO gathering.
NATO’s combat mission against the Taliban insurgents ends this year and the summit, starting in Britain on Thursday, is set to decide on a follow-up support mission widely seen as crucial to maintaining fragile nationwide stability.
But unless a president is chosen soon, Afghan Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammadi will attend the meeting alongside US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Afghanistan minister may attend key NATO summit
Afghanistan minister may attend key NATO summit
