The Afghan Army Will Need Help For Years

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Vince Campochiaro, foreground left, teaches an Afghan soldier how to properly zero a rifle at a range on Forward Operating Base Shukvani in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Nov. 18, 2013. Campochiaro, a team leader, is assigned to Scout Sniper Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. James Mast

Afghan Troops Will Need Help For Years -- Washington Times

Insurgents make gains as NATO pulls back

Al Qaeda’s relationship with the Afghan Taliban remains “intact,” but the number of al Qaeda fighters in the country remains very low, according to the Pentagon’s semi-annual report to Congress on the Afghanistan War.

In addition, Taliban insurgents have made gains in rural areas vacated by NATO troops, and Afghan troop casualties have increased by 79 percent in the past six months while coalition casualties have decreased, states the report, which was released earlier this month.

According to the report, Afghan troops will need “substantial” mentoring and aid after 2014 in order to defeat the Taliban, despite having made significant improvements. Afghan troops now conduct 95 percent of all conventional operations and 98 percent of all special operations, but they still need help with medical support, clearing routes of roadside bombs, restocking remote bases and conducting air attacks.

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My Comment: It is good to know that the Afghan Army is now conducting 95 percent of all conventional operations and 98 percent of all special operations .... but it is not good that their casualty rate has skyrocketed up by 79%. The Afghan military will need help in logistics and air support .... these are the operations that take the longest time to assemble and properly train.