NATO leaders meeting in Chicago agreed to an “irreversible” plan to pull out all troops by the end of 2014, but did not make specific commitments on money to Afghanistan’s security forces.
NATO leaders meeting in Chicago agreed to an “irreversible” plan to pull out all troops by the end of 2014, but did not make specific commitments on money to Afghanistan’s security forces. Killid gathered people’s opinion throughout the country.Afghanistan has demanded NATO pay 4.1 billion USD annually to equip and fund the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) to wage the war it started. The US was spending roughly 2 billion USD a week last year.
Mohamad Adel of Khak Jabar, Kabul, is confident the ANSF can defend the country if NATO keeps its promise to fund Afghan security after the withdrawal of its troops. He questions the policy of paying Afghan soldiers only 250 USD while NATO troops get thousands of dollars per month. Yet, the ANSF is motivated, he says. On April 13, when Taleban forces attacked Kabul through the night, the ANSF did a commendable job defending the city, he says. “See how they resisted,” he exclaims, “no British or American soldiers were with them!”
Khalilullah, 25, from Pasaband district in Ghor province also believes Afghanistan has a capable army and police, but doubts NATO will bankroll the ANSF after the pullout. “They (NATO) said (at the Chicago Summit) their forces would exit. But they said nothing about providing financial assistance. I doubt their honesty and believe in the Afghan forces,” he told Killid.
Both Mohamad Yaseen, 41, a resident of Logar, and Mohammad Raqeeb, 23, from Chemtal district, Balkh, think Afghan forces are more effective than foreign forces. Security has improved in the areas handed over to ANSF, says Yaseen. “Areas under the control of Afghans are safe. Young Afghan soldiers know the customs and culture of the local people; their policing is very successful.” Raqeeb says operations by the Afghan army purged Charbolak, Chemtal and other districts in 2010 of armed government opponents for some time. “Now they have returned and the ANA has to launch another operation.”
“A shadow on us”
Bilal of Kama district in Nangarhar province says Afghan forces have an edge over NATO: they can depend on support from locals. He has no problems with the eventual withdrawal of foreign troops (“How long can female foreign soldiers safeguard our security?” he asks.) “but NATO should continue the assistance,” he says. He observes NATO did not “promise any financial support” in Chicago. That is a “shame for Afghanistan”, he says. “It has astonished me,” he adds, “I am worrying maybe there are differences between NATO members! It has put a shadow on us.”
Marjan Gul, 45, of Alingar district in Laghman province, is also wondering why NATO members made no money commitments at the Chicago meeting. He thinks maybe it will done at yet another conference on Afghanistan. What are his concerns about the future? “We as well as international community know the capacity of Afghan forces has been raised. There are concerns only regarding the funding without which the future will be very unpredictable.”
Asked if NATO can be trusted, Abdullah Hoodman, a resident of Sarkano district of Kunar province, said it has kept its promises so far. “NATO has been transferring security responsibilities, playing a supportive role in night operations, consulting us, and training our soldiers … They are keeping their promises,” he said. Hoodman said he welcomes NATO’s decision at Chicago to stick to the plan of phased withdrawal by 2014. “Chicago revealed NATO soldiers trust Afghans, and their unfamiliarity in villages in Kunar had led them to arrest and kill innocent locals. People hate them. Handing over security duties is beneficial for everyone: NATO, Afghan government and people.”
New mission
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence said after the Chicago Summit the ANSF requires “aircrafts and armoured vehicles”. Spokesman General Mohammad Zaher Azimi said Afghan forces have carried out successful operations in Kandahar, Helmand and Faryab provinces … We have the power we should be supported with fighter aircrafts and armoured vehicles.”
Charting the course of action after 2014, NATO’s secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen has clarified there will be a “new mission” in Afghanistan. “We are ready to lead a new mission of consulting, training and support. Let me say clearly that this will not be under different names of ISAF. This will be a new role of a new mission.”
Retired General Atiqullah Amarkhail, an expert in defence affairs, observed “there was no coordination in the Chicago conference” between member states. “Many questions were left vague. They (NATO) will have to reach an agreement in the future, and announce it.” He thinks the money will be coughed up by the US and NATO.
Ghulam Jilani Zwak who heads Afghan Research and Advisory Centre was disappointed with the conference outcome. The money should have been put on the table, he says. “They (NATO) promised they would not let terrorism germinate again but it was not stated how the goal would be achieved.”
