The Afghan government on Saturday said the reduction in the number of USforces in Afghanistan will not leave negative impacts on the overallsecurity situation in the country.
The Defense Ministry said the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces(ANDSF) have achieved the ability to confront insurgents on thebattlefields independently.
“The reduction in the US forces number will not leave any significantimpacts on the war in Afghanistan,” said Rahmatullah Andar, spokesman forthe National Security Council (NSC).
“The brave members of the Afghan security and defense forces are carryingnearly 100 percent of counterterrorism operations on their own. They havethe required capabilities for ground and air operations,” the DefenseMinistry spokesman Rohullah Ahmadzai said.
The US Department of Defense in a statement on Saturday confirmed that thenumber of US forces in Afghanistan has reached 2,500 as directed byPresident Donald Trump.
“Today, the United States is closer than ever to ending nearly two decadesof war and welcoming in an Afghan-owned, Afghan-led peace process toachieve a political settlement and a permanent and comprehensiveceasefire,” the statement said quoting US Acting Defense SecretaryChristopher Miller.
US officials have also said that Washington plans to manage its plans aboutreducing the number of US forces in Afghanistan to zero by May, butWashington has clarified that a further drawdown will be conditions-based.
“With a force of 2,500, commanders have what they need to keep America, ourpeople and our interests safe,” Miller said. “Working alongside our NATOallies and partners, the United States will continue to execute both ourcounterterrorism mission and the train, advise and assist mission insupport of Afghan Security Forces working to secure peace in theircountry.”
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Trump has long called for troops to come home and has criticized USinterventions abroad.
Referring to the drawdown of US forces in Afghanistan, a NATO official said“NATO’s position has not changed and that “we are carrying out ourtrain/advise/assist mission in its current configuration, with aHeadquarters in Kabul and four regional commands.”
“We are helping the Afghan security forces in their efforts towards lastingpeace, and ensuring that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven forinternational terrorism. NATO continues to support the Afghan peaceprocess, and as part of the peace process, we stand ready to further adjustour presence, in line with our conditions-based approach. In the monthsahead, we will continue to assess our presence based on conditions on theground,” the NATO official told TOLOnews.
Meanwhile, Gen. Sharif Yaftali, former chief of army staff said that ahasty reduction will have severe repercussions.
“They (US) should abide by its commitments to Afghan security and defenseforces and provide them logistical, financial and economic support. Theyshould also provide air support if needed so that peace can prevail inAfghanistan,” Yaftali said.
“As long as a country does not stand on its own feet and feel responsible,it is always the enemy’s prey. This will be good if they withdraw today,”said military analyst Atiqullah Amarkhil.
