NATO, Afghanistan agree to transition plan

CHICAGO, May 21 (UPI) -- NATO leaders say they're committed to providing Afghanistan with the money and training needed to transition to a life without NATO forces.

The International Security Assistance Force, meeting at the NATO summit in Chicago, said the foundation of NATO's transition strategy is an Afghan National Security Force that is sufficiently prepared and financial sustainable.

"A sufficient and sustainable ANSF will help guarantee that our hard-fought gains in Afghanistan will be preserved and is necessary for the stability and security of Afghanistan going forward," the White House said Monday.

Afghanistan, the United States, NATO allies and ISAF partners announced an agreed vision for the ANSF and committed to providing adequate funding for it.

The plan calls for Afghanistan's military to grow to 352,000 by the end of next year and to remain at that size through the end of 2015.

"We anticipate that an improving security environment would then allow for a carefully planned, conditions-based drawdown to an enduring force over another two years, concluding at the end of 2017," the White House said.

The Afghan government has pledged to provide at least $500 million a year for the military beginning in 2015.

NATO, ISAF and other donors agreed to provide significant additional funding, the White House said.