Just a few days are to go before the New Year 2014, about which there has been much anxiety in Afghanistan, begins. The important presidential election has been schedule for April 5th while withdrawal of US-led NATO troops will also complete by the end of next year. Thus, it will be challenging and yet decisive year for Afghanistan.

The people of Afghanistan are more concerned about how the political transition will take place and what fate will the country face once the international troops are out. The uncertainty graph has moved higher as the crucial Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States still remains to be in limbo.

2014 will be another challenging year for Afghanistan National Security Forces. This year, security responsibilities of almost all provinces of Afghanistan were handed from International Security Assistance Force to ANSF which is deemed a success for the country. Nevertheless, the Afghan security forces have been paying much sacrifice in blood to maintain this success. The dying rate of Afghan police and army reached 100 a week. As the insurgents will try to create security hindrances for the spring election, the ANSF will be responsible for countering them. Therefore, there are worries their death toll might increase further.

In 2014, the Afghan government must prepare for post-2014 scenarios and contingencies. But it seems as if the government will be more focused on issues pertaining to election and its security. There are, therefore, concerns that poor management of important national issues like political transition and preparation for the future security of the country in the coming year might have catastrophic result for the future of Afghans and all the gains they have had in various areas over the past 12 years would be at the great risk of being lost.

The security agreement, if successfully finalized can be useful in diminishing the grave concern persisting among the people of Afghanistan. Based on BSA, thousands of US troops will remain in Afghanistan after 2014 that will be tasked to train and support the ANSF. That is indeed the time need of Afghanistan.

There is no doubt that 2014 is being deemed as a challenging year for Afghanistan. Yet the challenges can be turned into opportunities provided that the Afghan government and the international community can genuinely cooperate to fight terrorism which is a threat not only to the security of Afghanistan but also to that of region and the world.