The question that circulates in every one’s mind is that, will the Afghan security forces be able to defend Afghanistan on their own after the planned withdrawal of NATO troops from here?  Today Afghan army is the most trustable and creditable organization in the eyes of the people of Afghanistan.

 It is the source of hope for the future of Afghanistan. Afghan soldiers are ready to give sacrifices of any kind for defense of their county against enemy. There is no doubt in that. But keeping in view the capabilities and equipments in the hands of Afghan security forces, one cannot say without full surety that they would be fully able to defend Afghanistan, once NATO is completely out.

At current the ANSF does not have enough capacity to defend Afghanistan without military support from international forces in the country. The same point has been admitted by Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford in a recent interview.

He says Afghanistan is not yet strong enough to provide for its own security but is optimistic about the country’s future. “The conditions are not yet set for a stable and secure Afghanistan in the long term from which Al Qaeda and other international extremist groups will not be able to conduct attacks on the West,” the general tells On the Radar.

The time is running out for Afghanistan and international backers. So many things need to be accomplished in short span of about one and a half year. The most important are: transition of security responsibilities to Afghan forces and make sure that they can stand on their own before NATO troops withdraw and also another crucial process is the political transition as the next presidential election is due in April, 2014.

It is feared that a premature withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan would lead to a chaotic situation in the country which will waste all the security, political and economic gains Afghanistan has so far achieved. The gains must not reverse and for that more time should be allowed to ANSF to become more competent and be fully able to defend Afghanistan on their own. 

If NATO is to withdraw from Afghanistan, it should double the pace of training and equipping the Afghan forces. The international community must provide latest weaponry, tanks, war crafts and other military equipment to ANSF to let them be in a better position against the insurgents related to Taliban and other groups.