BRUSSELS: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg expressed concern on Wednesday aboutthe high casualties among Afghan security forces, after a senior US generalwarned the death toll was becoming unsustainable.
Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie has warned that unless recruiting andtraining improve, local forces will not overcome the current casualty rate.McKenzie has been nominated to lead US military´s Central Command, whichoversees the Afghan war.
Last month, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said nearly 30,000 local forceshad been killed since they took over responsibility for security in thewar-torn country from NATO in 2015 — far more than previously acknowledged.
Speaking after talks with NATO ministers, Stoltenberg said the issue hadbeen a priority when he visited Afghanistan recently with senior militaryleaders and steps were being taken to address the problem.
“I share the concern about the high casualty rates, but the consequence ofthat is not to reduce our presence but to make sure we provide support toenable them to increase their capabilities and their resilience even more,”Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels.
McKenzie told the US Senate Armed Services Committee at his nominationhearing Tuesday that Afghan forces were still unable to effectivelywithstand the Taliban, who have made steady gains in recent years and nownumber about 60,000 in Afghanistan.
But Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani insisted that despite thelosses, resolve of his country´s forces and their appetite for the fightremain undimmed.
“We do have casualties, but as far as the determination and resolve of theAfghan security forces is concerned, be assured they are very resilient indefending their territory and their people against terrorist attacks,” hesaid.Killer blast
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With the conflict mired in stalemate 17 years after the US-led invasion inthe wake of the 9/11 attacks ousted the Taliban from power, Western powersare stepping up efforts to push negotiations.
President Donald Trump and many US lawmakers are growing frustrated with asuccession of generals promising that things may soon turn a corner andangered over the $45 billion or so America still pays annually for itsinvolvement in Afghanistan.
After talks in Brussels, foreign ministers from countries taking part inNATO´s Resolute Support mission renewed a call for direct talks between theTaliban and the government.
Last week, Ghani announced a 12-strong team for prospective talks but theoptimism for peace has been tempered by continuing attacks, including ablast outside a British security firm in Kabul that killed 10 people lastweek.
Stoltenberg warned that as all sides seek to press their advantage on thebattlefield in the run-up to talks, the security situation “may becomeworse before it becomes better.”
NATO has around 16,000 troops in Afghanistan to train, advise and assistlocal forces. – APP/AFP
