The sudden decision by the US to advance the date of the handover of leadership of security to the Afghan military has sparked anxiety.
The sudden decision by the US to advance the date of the handover of leadership of security to the Afghan military has sparked anxiety.There are concerns at two levels. Questions are being raised about the level of preparedness of the Afghan National Army to take over security responsibility. Also, whether the Hamid Karzai government is strong enough to control the situation, which is widely expected to deteriorate.
FaizullahJalal, lecturer in Kabul University, thinks the pull-out could aggravate the violence in Afghanistan. It would provide the Taleban with the opportunity to regroup and launch bloody attacks, he feels.
Javed, a 24-year-old resident of Kabul, believes: “If Afghan security forces are not properly trained and equipped, and if the government does not show commitment to governance, conflicts and partisan battles will follow the pull-out of foreign troops.”
ShukriaBarakzai, MP and head of defence affairs in Parliament, says the presence of the international community has a big influence on national security and economy. “Therefore people are concerned that the exit was put forward by a year,” she adds.
Surprise announcement
Interviews with a cross-section of people reveal a common desire that the government should step into the breach and save the day. “It is the duty of the Afghan government as well as security forces to think deeply regarding the (future) risky security situation and prevent it from getting complicated,” says RuhullahRuhani, a defence specialist.
Government ministers reckon the situation is delicate. Finance Minister Omar Zakhiwal , presenting the budget report on Feb. 5, warned with economic policies not in place, if the foreign troops leave, “anarchy in commerce and economic collapse is possible”.
The Karzai government was taken by surprise by Panetta’s announcement made to reporters while he was en route to a NATO conference in Brussels.
Head of internal security in Parliament, Mohammad Hamid Lalai Hamidzoi, says: “Until interference by neighbouring countries is stopped, the exit of external forces would be followed by deepening clashes.”
Mohammad Yonus Qanoni, former member of the National Coalition told Killid, “Ten years of a golden opportunity for Afghan forces to become self-sufficient have been lost. ISAF forces led by NATO will leave the country but the Afghan security forces will not be able to defend it.”
