23 September 2008
Enhancing Afghan Security Forces Seen as Significant Challenge
U.S. will encourage more cooperation between Afghanistan, Pakistan
Washington — The most significant challenge facing the United States and its allies in Afghanistan is increasing the competence and reliability of the Afghan security forces, says U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
"The persistent and increasing violence resulting from an organized insurgency is, of course, our greatest concern," Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee September 23. "Until the insurgency is deprived of safe havens, insecurity and violence will persist."
Gates said the United States must encourage Afghanistan and Pakistan to work together to secure their mountainous border. Part of that effort includes the establishment of more border coordination centers that are jointly manned by troops from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan and Pakistani troops; following up on the 2007 Joint Peace Jirga; and holding routine meetings of the Tripartite Commission.
"We must continue to work with the Pakistani government to extend its authority in the tribal region and provide badly needed economic, medical and educational assistance to Pakistani citizens there," Gates said.
Any deterioration would be a setback for both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Gates added.
The U.N. Security Council on September 22 unanimously extended the mission of the ISAF in Afghanistan for another year and called for it to be strengthened in the face of increased violence and terrorism from the Taliban, al-Qaida and illicit drug smugglers. The ISAF now has 47,600 personnel in Afghanistan. It was established after the U.S.-led coalition ousted the Taliban regime in late 2001 to help the then-interim government maintain security.
"We are very pleased that the Security Council has unanimously approved the extension of the mandate for ISAF," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Zalmay Khalilzad said at U.N. headquarters in New York. Previously, such approval had not been unanimous, he said.
CLASSIC INSURGENCY
Gates said the United States is working with the Afghans and coalition partners to counter a classic extremist insurgency fueled by ideology, illicit drug production, poverty, crime and corruption.
During a recent visit to the region, Gates said, he reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to success in Afghanistan, including increasing the number of U.S. forces as well as enhancing the capabilities of Afghan security forces.
"I also expressed my regret, and the regret of the American people, for the civilians killed and injured in coalition and NATO airstrikes," he said.
Gates said the United States has 31,000 troops in Afghanistan, which is an increase from 21,000 two years ago; more are planned for deployment there. The United States will send an additional Marine battalion this November and by January 2009 an Army brigade. Both had been slated for deployment to Iraq.
The security situation has improved so much in Iraq that the five Army combat brigades, two Marine battalions and Marine expeditionary unit that were sent as part of the surge in 2007 have returned home without replacement. Another 8,000 U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by February 2009 without being replaced.
The recent turnover of Anbar province to Iraqi control — the 11th to be turned over from among 18 provinces — highlights how much the security situation in Iraq has improved, Gates said.
And another 3,400 noncombat forces are also being withdrawn from Iraq. Eventually, many troops that had been slated for Iraq will be available for missions in Afghanistan, but not until later next year, Gates said. The additional troop requirements include more helicopters, combat troops, military trainers and other military support forces.
But Gates added that security is just one aspect of the greater campaign in Afghanistan. "We must maintain momentum, keep the international community engaged, and develop the capacity of the Afghan government," he said.
