Iraqi National Security Adviser: ‘Iraqis have consensus on pull-out of foreign forces’

The National Security Advisor of Iraq stated that in respect of the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq, the government of the country is seeking to end the presence of foreign forces.

Qasim Al-Araji, the National Security Advisor of Iraq, expressed at the sixth Baghdad Dialogue Conference titled “Regional Connectivity – Iraq’s Priority,” on Saturday that the government of this country is seeking to end the presence of foreign forces, and there is a political consensus in Iraq regarding the withdrawal of foreign forces.

He stated that our security forces have made significant progress and gained a lot of experience in dealing with terrorism. The Iraqi government does not forget the kindness of countries that helped it in the fight against terrorism. NATO, which still has a presence in Iraq, is advisory and not a combat group, the Iraqi official noted.

Al-Araji further said that there is a political consensus in Iraq regarding the absence of foreign forces, and that coalition forces are not meant to replace security forces but were present for a specific period and their presence is no longer needed.