Afghanistan: 'No Willingness' From NATO Allies To Replace US Troops, Secretary General Says

NATO's Secretary General has said he was not part of the UK Defence Secretary's efforts urging NATO allies to fill the vacuum left by departing US troops in Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, Ben Wallace revealed in The Telegraph the UK tried to form a military coalition with NATO forces to keep troops in Afghanistan.

However, Jens Stoltenberg said "there was no willingness from other European allies, Canada, other partner nations to replace or fill in after the US".

His comments come as the Taliban have almost total control over Afghanistan, having taken over numerous provincial capitals and Kabul, the nation's capital city.

Mr Stoltenberg also blamed the speed of the takeover on Afghan leaders, and said despite "considerable investment and sacrifice over two decades, the collapse was swift and sudden".

"Ending our military mission was not easy, we were faced with a serious dilemma – either leave and risk seeing the Taliban regain control, or stay and risk renewed attacks and an open-ended combat mission," he said.

"We never intended to stay in Afghanistan forever."

Watch: Afghanistan – world 'caught by surprise' by Taliban takeover.

"What we have seen in the last few weeks was a military (and) a political collapse at a speed which had not been anticipated.

"Parts of the Afghan security forces fought bravely but they were unable to secure the country because, ultimately, the Afghan political leadership failed to stand up to the Taliban and achieve the political solution that Afghans desperately wanted."

Mr Stoltenberg also said the gains made in Afghanistan should be recognised.

"In the last two decades there have been no terrorist attacks on allied soil organised from Afghanistan," he said.

"Those taking power now have the responsibility to ensure that international terrorists do not regain a foothold.

Watch: Emotional Defence Secretary admits 'some people won't get back' from Afghanistan.

"[NATO] allies have the capability and the vigilance to address future terrorist threats from Afghanistan," he said.

He also warned the Taliban risk "international isolation" if they reinstate the "reign of fear" they relied on when they first came to power in the 1990s.

"All Afghan men, women and children deserve to live in safety and dignity," he said.

"There must be a peaceful transfer of power to an inclusive government with no revenge or retribution."

Mr Stoltenberg said there are about 800 NATO civilian personnel in Kabul to maintain operations at the airport as the Taliban advance.

He added the group "must facilitate and respect the safe departure of all those who wish to leave" Afghanistan and said NATO is maintaining a diplomatic presence in the Afghan capital to co-ordinate the ongoing evacuation process.