"We still face security challenges. This was not the first such attack, and I don`t expect it will be the last. But such attacks don`t change the transition strategy. They don`t change the goal and they don`t change the timeline," she told reporters at NATO headquarters.
The spokeswomen said the "planned and coordinated" attacks only caused limited casualties, which showed the improving capabilities of Afghan forces that will take over full security responsibilities from NATO by the end of 2014.
"They dealt with the situation. They defeated the attacks. And they did it largely on their own. They did what they were trained to do, and they did that very effectively," she said.
However, Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday blamed NATO for the attacks, which have left 48 people dead and 65 others injured.
"The fact terrorists were able to enter Kabul and other provinces was an intelligence failure for us and especially for NATO," he said.
NATO foreign and defense ministers are scheduled to meet on Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels, with Afghanistan high on the agenda. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
