KABUL - Following a meeting of NATO and ISAF Defense Ministers in Brussels, Afghan Minister of Defense Besmellah Muhammadi expressed immense satisfaction with the coalition's talk of continued support for the Afghan security forces.

Although the exact nature of what NATO's involvement in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends in December will be remains unclear, Minister Muhammadi said with confidence that support from the 28 member countries of NATO is welcomed by Afghan officials.

According to Muhammadi, NATO and ISAF officials have readied plans for post-2014 support to the Afghan forces and Afghanistan's national security as a whole. "They showed preparedness for continuous support and equipping of the Afghan Security Forces and in general support to Afghanistan; this is a great achievement for us," he said on Thursday.

The Afghan Defense Minister also took time to praise his armed forces, which have received a considerable amount of positive review over the past year as they have taken on a larger role in security operations around the country.

"Everyone has said that the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces has increased, and over the past year, operations were independently led by Afghans," Muhammadi said. "Everyone believed and praised them and their support will continue."

Last week, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that he plans for 9,800 U.S. to remain in Afghanistan after 2014 in order to help train and advise the Afghan security forces. But he also said he expects that number to drop down to regular embassy levels by the end of 2016. It is expected that a total of 14,000 NATO troops will remain in Afghanistan post-2014.

The Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) that provides the legal framework for an extended military partnership with the U.S., and by extension NATO, remains unsigned, yet officials in Washington and Brussels appear confident enough in relations with Afghanistan to assure further support.

Both presidential candidates in this year's runoff, scheduled for June 14, have promised to sign the BSA within days of entering office.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen took time on Saturday to praise the Afghan security forces and the work they have done to ensure a smooth election process this year.

"We have seen important signs of progress in Afghanistan this spring," Mr. Rasmussen said. "The Afghan Security Forces did an outstanding job in securing the first round of presidential elections in April. The Afghan people showed a great courage by turning out to vote in millions. Every single vote cast was a victory for democracy and for Afghanistan."

The NATO Secretary General said Minister Muhammadi had assured him that preparations for the second round were well underway and that voters would be safe as they were in April.

This year's election marks Afghanistan's first democratic transition of power in history, and the Taliban has promised to derail it. (Tolonews)