Afghanistan's rival presidential candidates told NATO leaders they are committed to forming a national unity government when the dispute over the presidential vote is resolved.
In a joint message sent to the NATO summit in Britain on September 4, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah wrote, "We believe in an inclusive political vision. We will form a government of national unity."
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said leaders from NATO members received the message.
A UN-led audit of the ballots is currently being held after claims of massive fraud.
Rasmussen said earlier on September 4 that "we are approaching the date" when an Afghan president must sign a security agreement with NATO that would allow a small force to stay in Afghanistan after alliance forces withdraw at the end of 2014.
President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign the agreement.