Afghan troops need further global efforts for strengthening: Gen. Campbell

Chief of Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan in the first conference of evaluating the security accord between Kabul Washington in Kabul emphasized on further efforts for strengthening Afghan troops and their victory in the battle grounds.

John Campbell, Chief of Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan noted that the armed Taliban group is a joint enemy so they will not spare any efforts for empowering Afghan forces.

“We have done difficult tasks and we will not spare any efforts for strengthening Afghan forces, but much works also remain for empowering them,” said John Campbell, Chief of Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the acting defense minister says that if Taliban joins the Peace Process, there will be no need for presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan.

Masoum Istanikzai, acting defense minister stated that NATO tries to accelerate the equipping and capacity building of afghan troops.

“Nearly 85 percent of foreign forces withdraw the country but security contracts are flexible. If the war ends in Afghanistan, there will be no need for foreign troops to stay in the country,” added Istanikzai.

The Chief of Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan also supports Peace process and does not want the previous years’ achievements to be victimized.

Afghan security forces will be financially supported by the international community, particularly the United States.

Just over a year ago the NATO mission in Afghanistan transitioned into an Afghan operation with allied nations assisting training and equipping local forces to tackle Taliban insurgents and other armed groups.

Since then, the Taliban have dealt some stinging blows to Afghan forces, including a short-lived takeover of the northern city of Kunduz.

Further complicating the fragile security situation is the emergence of Islamic State extremists in parts of the country. They are trying to establish a base in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border.

At the Pentagon Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Afghan security forces would grow in strength in the coming years, describing them as “a force in the making.” “So we expect the Afghan security forces to be stronger, much stronger this season than they were last season.”

President Barack Obama in October announced that 9,800 US forces would remain in Afghanistan through most of 2016 — backtracking on an earlier pledge to pull all but 1,000 US troops from the country.

Numbers would then be drawn down to 5,500 by January 2017, under current plans.