Widely written off as a relic from the Cold War a few years ago, Nato found a new purpose on the international arena following the 9/11 attacks in New York eight years ago.<br /><br />The alliance of the US, Canada and 28 European countries, invoked article 5 of its charter for the first time in its 60-year history following the attacks. The article says that an attack on any member shall be considered to be an attack on all.<br />Two years later, NATO took control of the International Security Assistance Force, which commands about 55,000 troops in Afghanistan.<br /><br />But as the Afghan War drags on, and casualties from member states rise, many Nato countries want to see a timeline for a conclusion of the conflict.<br /><br />Meanwhile, tensions with Moscow continue to grow as Nato expands its membership deeper into former Warsaw Pact territory.<br /><br />What are the challenges laying ahead for the worlds biggest military alliance?<br /><br />In New York for a special series of programmes as world leaders gather for the UN general assembly Riz meets veteran Danish politician Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the new Secretary General of Nato.
