KABUL (SW): Welcoming the proposed surge in US troops in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) has underlined the need for more military aid and training for the Afghan forces.
On Thursday, Gen. John W. Nicholson, Commander of NATO's Resolute Support Mission and US Forces – Afghanistan, told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee that ‘few thousand’ more troops are needed to more effectively train and advise Afghan soldiers.
Gen. Dawlat Waziri, the MoD spokesman, welcomed this proposed move while talking to Salam Watandar. Gen. Waziri urged upon the international community to unite against terrorism in Afghanistan. “We shall be supported to strengthen our army so that they can effectively defend the country from the menace of terrorism”, he said.
Meanwhile, a number of experts on security affairs believe the Afghan forces need more military aid and training than a simple surge of the foreign troops in the country.
Kabul Khan Tadbeer, an analyst, said the conflict can only be resolved with effective training of the country’s armed forces and sustainable military aid. Gen. Atiqullah Amarkhail, former Air Chief, said Afghanistan’s Air Force needs to be upgraded. He added equipping and training the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) would prove handy to ensure peace in the country.
There are approximately 13500 foreign troops in Afghanistan, up to 8400 of them are American.
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