Reportedly, the NATO officials believe that Afghan security forces will be competent, by the end of 2014, to defend Afghanistan on their own and the same is maintained by Afghan officials in Ministries of Defense and Interior. Should this be true, it is a music in the ears of Afghan people. But it seems like the gap between claims and ground realities are widening as armed opponent groups now in every corner of Afghanistan launching attacks almost wherever they want.

The Ministry of Defense officials have said there would be public awareness programs aimed at achieving public cooperation to the Afghan Police and Army. There is no doubt that large number of people is supporting the Afghan forces by reporting about suspicious people and whatsoever they see as leading to a terror attack.

But at the same time there are people in Afghanistan who still support the Taliban and cooperate with them in launching attacks on government and national and international forces. There are intensive trainings of the Afghan force under way and more than $ 11 billion is anticipated to be invested on them in 2011 only and military authorities hope that by 2014 Afghans can take all security of responsibilities on their own. However, experts think the other way. The period during which the Afghan soldiers are expected to nurture to a satisfactorily level is conceived too short. For their training and equipping process, more time needs to be considered – at least ten years.

The transition process which has been regarded as 'real process' by US President Barack Obama, is deemed to be starting soon. All eyes are on the strategic partnership between Afghanistan and the US. All know that the problems in Afghanistan need a long term international engagement and the beneficiary of any mistakes would be the insurgents. And it's a big mistake leaving Afghanistan without turning Afghan Army into competent force like the armies of the countries in the region. Without that, there are probabilities that Afghanistan will once again fall in the hands of extremists.