KABUL - The Defense Ministry spokesman on Wednesday said Afghan forces would need assistance from the international community even after the 2014 security switch, but their expenses would be less than what the former US ambassador has estimated. Former US ambassador Gen. Karl Eikenberry said a few days back if the international community stopped helping Afghan forces after the withdrawal of NATO-led troops, they might not be able to stand on their own feet.

Total expenditure of the Afghan security sector would be three times higher than the country's overall annual revenue, Eikenberry said.

Speaking to media people in Kabul on Wednesday, the defense ministry spokesman said it was correct that Afghan forces would continue to need help from the international community beyond 2014 to meet their needs.
Gen. Zahir Azimi said the international community was expected to pledge more assistance to Afghanistan at the upcoming second Bonn conference later this year.

If the Afghan forces were provided with weapons, security installations constructed and the army trained, then there would be no need for further expenditure, he explained. "The estimate given by Eikenberry is not correct. According to our calculations, his estimate is much too high."

Azimi said it was in the interest of the international community to shift the war burden to the Afghan National Army. The official added nearly 248 militants had been killed, 64 others injured and 466 arrested over the past one month.