Obama praises role of Afghan security forces

President Barack Obama has applauded role of the Afghan security forces in establishing peace and stability in the violence-wracked Afghanistan. President Obama also hailed decision of President Hamid Karzai to have local forces more control of the country. Slowly and gradually, Afghan security forces are being trained by the US-led coalition forces and they are taking control of the restive areas of the country. The move is exactly in line with plan of Obama administration as the US-led coalition forces are to be withdrawn from Afghanistan at the end of 2014.

In the next phase, newly-trained but ambitious Afghan security forces will have control of more than 122 districts throughout the country. This way around 75 percent of the population will directly come under control of the Afghan security forces. However, a question arises here if the Afghan security forces will be able enough to deal with the widespread militancy in the country? Taliban and al-Qaeda linked militants still appear to be strong enough to repel the Afghan security forces. The dialogue process initiated with Taliban has also failed as the US believes that terrorists are demanding too much in return to lay down their arms.

The United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta also hailed the decision of Afghan government to deploy the local security forces across the country. Mr. Panetta termed the decision as another proof of the US policy being implemented in the restive country. He expressed hope that Afghan security forces will better be able to deal with insurgents as they are local and easily recognizable by the local forces. However, a complete transition is likely to take more than a year. The process of transition is commendable but it is yet to be seen if the local security forces are better equipped to deal with the threats from Taliban and other militants linked to different terrorist outfits.

Mr Obama has also expressed his willingness to have a detailed meeting with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai at Chicago summit to discuss security issues of the country in detail. However, analysts based in the United States are skeptical over the latest move of the Afghan government as they believe that local security forces are neither trained enough to deal with the threat nor they are equipped with the sophisticated weapons. Some European countries including France have been pushing the United States for an early withdrawal from Afghanistan as they are faced with questions from their people at home.

Under the agreement, the United States would keep supporting Afghanistan to fight against terrorists and militants even after the US-led troops withdraw from the violence-wracked country. Obama administration does not want to leave Afghanistan on the mercy of terrorists linked to al-Qaeda and other militant outfits like it did in 90s after humiliating defeat of Soviet Union. The administration also wants to establish peace and stability in the country through strengthening Afghan security forces.