Chapter 1 Afghanistan in 2015 Continues…

Moreover, the Afghan government itself has identified the lack of appropriate lethal and non-lethal equipment as a major problem. Its demand for such equipment from the international community has so far not been met and is definitely going to have an impact on its capability to take on the insurgents independent of the foreign troops. This was a point highlighted by the Pentagon report as well, which felt that the Afghan Air Force had insufficient capabilities in providing the air support needed for Afghan ground forces’ operations. In addition, corruption, illiteracy, lack of proper medical care, and a high desertion rate continue to remain significant obstacles for the force.
Another challenge is the infiltration by insurgents, which is likely to increase even further in the future. This has been a strategy that the Taliban has used effectively for the past few years. The Afghan National Police and the tribal militias in particular have been the worst affected. Mullah Omar, in a statement released in October 2012, had claimed that infiltration or “Jihadic activities inside the circle of the State militias are the most effective stratagem. Its dimension will see further expansion, organization and efficiency”.11 In other statements, Omar has also encouraged defections by government officials and ANSF personnel claiming it to be their religious duty. The Taliban has also tried to take ownership of the ‘Green on Blue’ incidents claiming each attack to be a result of infiltration.12 Although it is difficult to determine to what extent the insider attacks have been a result of infiltration and to what extent the result of increasing resentment among the Afghans towards the foreign forces, the increasing ‘insider attacks’.

and infiltration have been a source of concern for the coalition forces and will have to be addressed post-2014.
The biggest challenge for the ANSF in the future is likely to be the lack of funding. It has been widely acknowledged that though the ANSF may be in a position to hold off the insurgents for now, their long-term sustainability will be dependent on the continuation of foreign aid.

To be continued…