Two Years After NATO Steps Down, Afghan Forces Still Struggle: US Inspector
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published January 12, 2017 | 01:50 AM
WASHINGTON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jan, 2017 ) : Two years after NATO handed responsibility for Afghanistan's security to local forces, the country remains crippled by corruption and its troops can barely hold the Taliban at bay, a US inspector said Wednesday.
Since US-led NATO troops stopped leading patrols and stepped into an advisory and support role at the end of 2014, Afghan army and police forces have suffered thousands of casualties and face continual assaults from a well-funded and well-armed Taliban.
"As much as I wish I could say much has improved in Afghanistan over the past two years, I cannot," John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), told a Washington think tank.
Sopko was speaking as his agency published a list of high-risk threats to Afghanistan, less than two weeks before incoming President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Just as President Barack Obama did eight years ago, Trump is inheriting an Afghan conflict that seems impossible to resolve.
Trump has offered few indications of his plans for Afghanistan. In a 2013 tweet, he said "Let's get out" of the country and said the money America spends there would be better used at home. Neither he nor his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton gave Afghanistan more than a passing mention during the presidential campaign.
Sopko noted the number of armed groups opposing the Afghan government is growing, and said the amount of Afghan districts under government control or influence dropped from 70.5 percent at the start of 2016 to just 63.4 percent by the end of August.
The Afghan army is "basically playing whack-a-mole following the Taliban around Afghanistan," Sopko said. "At a minimum, they're playing defense and are not taking the fight to the Taliban."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
Putin says plans to visit China in May
More Stories From World
-
Slot 'confident' of Liverpool job as 'negotiations' take place
1 hour ago -
Google parent Alphabet's Q1 profits beat estimates: company
2 hours ago -
WADA asks 'independent prosecutor' to examine Chinese swimmers case
2 hours ago -
New York court overturns Harvey Weinstein sex crime conviction
2 hours ago -
Bagnaia and Spanish rivals chase victory at Jerez
3 hours ago -
Russian, Ukrainian strikes kill at least 10 in frontline regions
4 hours ago
-
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
4 hours ago -
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
4 hours ago -
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
4 hours ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
4 hours ago -
US reinstates open internet rules rescinded under Trump
4 hours ago -
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
5 hours ago