Campbell: Afghanistan at a critical Juncture

The Top commander of US forces and NATO in Afghanistan, General John Campbell says that Afghanistan is at a critical juncture.

Talking to the House Armed Services Committee, Gen. John F Campbell noted that Afghan forces should be strengthened in order to meet the myriad challenges they face, including the rise of Daesh group.

“If we think that this is going to be cleared up in a couple of years, we’re fooling ourselves,” he said. “We have to position ourselves to ensure that we can do everything we can to mitigate this impact.”

The way to mitigate the threat is to apply pressure with the “great men and women that we have in all of our services,” and build the counterterrorism capability of Afghanistan and other countries in the region, he said.

While the Afghan army and police have engaged in tough fighting with the enemy and have proven themselves resilient, they cannot handle the fight alone at this point, Campbell said.

“Ultimately, I’m convinced that improved leadership and accountability will address most of their deficiencies. But it will take time for them to build their human capital,” he said.

Earlier, Gen. Campbell said that NATO’s international security assistance force stationed in Afghanistan has done tremendous job in protecting the people and helping the beleaguered country bounce back strongly.

General Campbell believes Afghan forces are ready to take the next giant leap. “I have confidence in the strength of the Afghan security forces, they have continued to progress in all their capabilities,” he said.