NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said the alliance will maintain its approach to Afghanistan after US President Barack Obama relieved his top general in the country from command.
Mr Rasmussen said: 'I have taken note that General McChrystal is stepping down as Commander of the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan.
'While he will no longer be the commander, the approach he helped put in place is the right one.
'The strategy continues to have NATO's support and our forces will continue to carry it out.'
Naming General David Petraeus to replace Gen Stanley McChrystal, Mr Obama also said the shift did not reflect a change in policy.
Gen McChrystal's dismissal follows remarks he and his aides made in a magazine article that disparaged the US president and other senior civilian leaders.
In his statement, Mr Rasmussen said NATO's top diplomat in Afghanistan Mark Sedwill will continue to oversee political efforts.
'Our operations in Afghanistan are continuing today, and they will not miss a beat,' he said.
A NATO spokesman said under the existing structure of the alliance's forces its member states will not have to approve Gen McChrystal's departure.
Gen McChrystal's strategy focused on taking on the Taliban in their homeland by improving security, alongside a push to boost local governance and development.
They also planned to train Afghan forces to take control before the start of a gradual US troop withdrawal.
