The Taliban is urging all NATO nations in Afghanistan to follow France's lead and pull their international forces from the war this year.

The call came in a three-page statement released Sunday as heads of state met at the NATO summit in Chicago to talk about the future of Afghanistan.

Newly elected French President Francois Hollande has said he will withdraw all French combat troops from Afghanistan by year's end - a full two years before the timeline agreed to by nations in U.S.-led NATO coalition.

The insurgent group noted declining public support for the war in the West and said political leaders should listen to their constituents and get out of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, protesters are gathering in Chicago. Thousands are expected to march from a downtown park to the lakeside convention center where President Barack Obama and dozens of other world leaders will meet.

Yesterday, demonstrators wound through the city's streets for hours, testing police. Clashes led to 18 arrests.