NATO’s 28 member states have unanimously backed a strategy to shift leadership of the near decade-long Afghanistan war to local forces by the end of 2014. But, lest the Taliban think they can wait it out, the NATO chief declared that the alliance’s commitment is open-ended. –JCL

The BBC:

Leaders of Nato’s 28 states have backed a strategy to transfer leadership for the fight against the Taliban to Afghan forces by the end of 2014.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai was in Lisbon, where he signed a long-term security partnership with Nato.

Nato’s secretary general said the Taliban would not be allowed simply to wait for foreign forces to leave, saying Nato would remain committed.

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