With Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) in limbo, concerns of the Afghan people over security and economic stability are rising as each day passes. The Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) is no exception.
On Sunday, February 09, The Washington Post reported that the Afghan soldiers who fight in the frontline with the Taliban are deeply worried about the uncertain fate of the BSA which will allow the US to keep a small number of its troops in Afghanistan for supporting and training the Afghan security forces. “If the international community leaves, there is no question that we will lose ground to the Taliban,” Col. Mohammad Dost, a battalion commander in Zabul province, said in an interview. “It’s the biggest worry for every soldier now.”
Indeed the concerns of the Afghan soldiers are logical and reasonable, although the Afghan government has been trying to suppress the voices of the military officers who speak out in favor of security agreement with the US. ANSF knows exactly what will happen if foreign military and financial aids stop flowing. For countering the growing strength of Taliban, there is a pressing need to fortify the Afghan army and police with latest weapons, tanks and other equipment a modern army needs. Presence of foreign troops after 2014 will not only support the Afghan troops morally but also work on developing their capacity will continue for many years.
Election campaign has recently kicked off in the country and the 11 presidential candidates are appearing at various forums to present their plans and programs for taking the country out of the challenges that have grabbed it over the past three decades. Almost all these candidates have supported the BSA and have said they would sign it if they triumph in the spring election. They know the importance of this agreement. But President Hamid Karzai has not only refused to sign the BSA but also have said that the US is free to leave Afghanistan. That indicates how much his notions on the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan have changed since the time when he was contesting in 2009 presidential election.
As it appears, the BSA will remain pending for signature of the new president that will be elected on April 5th. But until then uncertainty in all sectors including in that of security will keep on rising. This will cause substantial harm to Afghanistan’s armed forces and will be beneficial for their enemies. The Afghan soldiers have every right to voice their concerns.