NATO defence and foreign ministers arrive for a scheduled two-day meeting in Brussels on Afghanistan just days after an 18-hour insurgent attack on Kabul's diplomatic area.<br/> <br />Member countries were seeking to narrow their differences on how to fund the war-torn country after foreign troops withdraw at the end of 2014.<br/> <br />Sunday's attack highlighted NATO's lack of progress on bringing security to Afghanistan - and cast doubt on the Afghan forces' readiness to take over.<br/> <br />NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stressed the importance of continued financial support.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN:<br/> <br />"We will continue to support the Afghan security forces also beyond 2014. We will continue a training mission and we will support financially. We must make sure we maintain the gains made with so much investment in lives and resources. "<br/> <br />No final decision has yet been made as regards to the size, structure and cost of the Afghan security forces in the long term, although a figure of around 4 billion dollars-a-year had been mentioned.<br/> <br />With Western budgets tight at a time of economic downturn and austerity, finding financial commitments may prove tough.<br/> <br />Wednesday's meeting was in preparation for May's Chicago summit, where the finances needed in Afghanistan should be outlined.<br/> <br />Simon Hanna, Reuters
