Sunday February 12, 2017
Kabul (BNA) Gen. Nicholson, US and international coalition forces general commander to Afghanistan in his recent remarks in military committee of US senate has said they needed more troops to break war stalemate in Afghanistan. Stressing on dispatching more forces to Afghanistan, the US general said that strategy for increasing troops in Afghanistan to help Afghanistan government and maintaining stability and security in the country should be discussed. In reply to question of a number of U.S. senators in connection with way of increasing forces in Afghanistan, the US commander asserted that their allies, NATO member countries, or U.S. should consider to dispatch more troops and bear the burden to address needs in Afghanistan. In U.S. senate, the US official considered Pakistan as a country for which the Donald Trump administration should completely review its relations with the respective country, stressing that U.S. should put pressure on the country to destroy terrorist safe havens in its soil. “I also concern over influence of a number of foreign countries as Pakistan, Iran and Russia in Afghanistan where they continue the support and legalization of Taliban and weaken efforts created for stability of Afghanistan”, the U.S. commander stated. Afghanistan president office has also considered increase of NATO forces in Afghanistan as key in maintaining security and counter terrorism, saying that presence of NATO forces could cooperate with Afghanistan forces in training and advising.
Meanwhile, a number of lawmakers and experts also expressed their concern over continued insecurities in the country and insisted that Afghanistan was still suffered by terrorism and its security and stability were threatened by terrorist groups; therefore, long-term and continued support of RS mission in Afghanistan was a serious need. Hashimi, a member of Afghanistan parliament said, “Afghanistan is among countries mostly suffered in counter terrorism effort; thus, continued support and cooperation of NATO in particular US is needed as Afghan security forces are still facing serious challenges and lack of military equipment and need cooperation of the international community particularly NATO”. At the same time, a number of Afghanistan people believe that handing over security responsibilities to Afghan security forces is in fact showing that their capabilities have increased and the process can further pave foreign forces’ withdrawal from the country. They also think if domestic policies towards maintaining security in the country change, Afghan security forces can maintain security in the country by spiritual support and consultation of NATO. Col. Muhayudin, a retired officer told that accepting responsibilities by Afghan security forces could further increase trust of the people on the forces and such conditions the only thing giving hope and power to the people is the continued support and cooperation of NATO with Afghanistan in particular its security forces. It is amid that insecurities and threats have continued in a number of Afghanistan provinces in particular Helmand despite of presence of the international forces in Afghanistan for the past 14 years and it is expected that by dispatching more troops to the respective province security will get better.
Suraya Raiszada
