US may keep 10,000 troops in Afghanistan

[A.Rafay]

KABUL - Around 10,000 US troops are likely to stay in Afghanistan after combat soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) leave the country in 2014, a media report said on Monday.
The Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed Obama administration officials as saying the plan was in accordance with ISAF Commander Gen. John Allen’s recommendations. He has suggested a force between 6,000 and 15,000 US troops.
The force will conduct training and counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, where about 67,000 US troops are currently deployed, after the NATO mission concludes at the end of 2014.
With final decisions on the size of the American presence and its precise configuration yet to be made, Gen. John Allen may submit a formal recommendation for how quickly to begin pulling out the American soldiers.
George Little, the Pentagon spokesman, says: “The White House has not yet asked Gen. Allen for his assessment, nor have we begun considering any specific recommendations for troop numbers in 2013 and 2014.”

US may keep 10,000 troops in Afghanistan | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia

 

[Sher Malang]

It will be not clear for at least 6 more months they are just checking general reaction to these announcements!

 

[acid rain]

It will be not clear for at least 6 more months they are just checking general reaction to these announcements!

So, what is the current status of the ANA - present strength?, heard they are doing a good job on solo missions lately.

 

[Sher Malang]

So, what is the current status of the ANA - present strength?, heard they are doing a good job on solo missions lately.

ANA is standing at over 200,000 strong today with 160,000 ANP, we have enough manpower but all of them lack firepower which will come under serious consideration during current talks between Afghanistan and US on foreign troops post-2014 stay! Afghan government wants to have full authority of 4.1bln$ fund /year from US and allies so they could buy weapons of their choice - their major concern is Afghan Air Force which is currently operating only transport aircraft we lack air defenses too.

 

[acid rain]

ANA is standing at over 200,000 strong today with 160,000 ANP, we have enough manpower but all of them lack firepower which will come under serious consideration during current talks between Afghanistan and US on foreign troops post-2014 stay! Afghan government wants to have full authority of 4.1bln$ fund /year from US and allies so they could buy weapons of their choice - their major concern is Afghan Air Force which is currently operating only transport aircraft we lack air defenses too.

What is Afghanistan's threat perception, extremists are one for sure, besides that any other?

Its great to have someone from Afghanistan to ask questions to.

 

[Sher Malang]

What is Afghanistan's threat perception, extremists are one for sure, besides that any other?

Its great to have someone from Afghanistan to ask questions to.

Extremists for sure we don't need heavy weapons, jets, air defense against extremists but for self defense; throughout history our war doctrine has been defensive not aggressive those things we need are the basic need of every country's armed forces to defend the country from any outside threat - Taliban are not our long term enemy they are Afghans sooner or later we will come on an understanding with them and all this mess will end up but for another decade we have to get our defensive capabilities at least to 1970s!

 

[acid rain]

Extremists for sure we don't need heavy weapons, jets, air defense against extremists but for self defense; throughout history our war doctrine has been defensive not aggressive those things we need are the basic need of every country's armed forces to defend the country from any outside threat - Taliban are not our long term enemy they are Afghans sooner or later we will come on an understanding with them and all this mess will end up but for another decade we have to get our defensive capabilities at least to 1970s!

I understand what you said there, are you equally looking at economy rebuilding too? any industries u are looking at kick starting, and what about the major drug problem that Afghanistan has, are u doing anything about it?

I know for sure that education sector is improving.

 

[BATMAN]

ANA is standing at over 200,000 strong today with 160,000 ANP, we have enough manpower but all of them lack firepower which will come under serious consideration during current talks between Afghanistan and US on foreign troops post-2014 stay! Afghan government wants to have full authority of 4.1bln$ fund /year from US and allies so they could buy weapons of their choice - their major concern is Afghan Air Force which is currently operating only transport aircraft we lack air defenses too.

What sort of fire power are you looking at and who will finance it?
Where exactly are those 200,000 soldiers stationed, currently?

 

[Sher Malang]

I understand what you said there, are you equally looking at economy rebuilding too? any industries u are looking at kick starting, and what about the major drug problem that Afghanistan has, are u doing anything about it?

I know for sure that education sector is improving.

Exports as Important as Security: Commerce Ministry

The New Silk Road vision is a key element of a long-term strategy for Afghanistan | Tajikistan News-NA «Asia-Plus»

Those above links are today's news.

Our exports will increase enormously after major mine exploration in 2014, we need energy for running industries and hopefully we will be having our own oil by the end of 2013 and will be generating power from coal plants in 2014; works have been done for infrastructure of industrial zones - the drug problem will remain the same if we have a corrupt government in the future because the demand for drug is higher than ever in global markets.

Education sector is improving rapidly every young boy or girls is somewhere learning something and we will have a good generation of bright people in 2 decades.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

10,000 should be just alright ?

 

[Sher Malang]

What sort of fire power are you looking at and who will finance it?
Where exactly are those 200,000 soldiers stationed, currently?

Tanks, Artillery, SAMs, Jets etc.. by the end of 2014 we will be done with the infrastructure of ANSF with all their basic weapons, humvees, MRAPS etc.. the amount of $4.6bln will be enough to finance the remaining needs; and our way of spending is totally different from US/NATO we don't give a building paint contract for $90mln!

Those soldiers are stationed in all zonal corps:

201 Corps - Kabul
203 Corps - Gardez (east)
205 Corps - Kandahar (south)
207 Corps - Herat (west)
209 Corps - Mazar-e-Sharif (north)
215 Corps - Helmand (south)

 

[Sher Malang]

10,000 should be just alright ?

I think 10,000 is enough because that's the US only and there would be several thousands of NATO as well my guess is it will be between 16,000 to 22,000 overall.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

I think 10,000 is enough because that's the US only and there would be several thousands of NATO as well my guess is it will be between 16,000 to 22,000 overall.

Really ? Has any other country committed to keeping troops in Af after 2014 ?

 

[BATMAN]

Tanks, Artillery, SAMs, Jets etc.. by the end of 2014 we will be done with the infrastructure of ANSF with all their basic weapons, humvees, MRAPS etc.. the amount of $4.6bln will be enough to finance the renaming needs; and our way spending is totally different from US/NATO we don't give a building paint contract for $90mln!

Those soldiers are stationed in all zonal corps:

201 Corps - Kabul
203 Corps - Gardez (east)
205 Corps - Kandahar (south)
207 Corps - Herat (west)
209 Corps - Mazar-e-Sharif (north)
215 Corps - Helmand (south)

Why would you need SAMS and why would you need so huge army surrounding Pakistan?

I think this army is not sustainable, foreign investors can invest in it for maximum 1-3 years.

 

[acid rain]

Tanks, Artillery, SAMs, Jets etc.. by the end of 2014 we will be done with the infrastructure of ANSF with all their basic weapons, humvees, MRAPS etc.. the amount of $4.6bln will be enough to finance the remaining needs; and our way of spending is totally different from US/NATO we don't give a building paint contract for $90mln!

Those soldiers are stationed in all zonal corps:

201 Corps - Kabul
203 Corps - Gardez (east)
205 Corps - Kandahar (south)
207 Corps - Herat (west)
209 Corps - Mazar-e-Sharif (north)
215 Corps - Helmand (south)

Why would you need SAMS and why would you need so huge army surrounding Pakistan?

I think this army is not sustainable, foreign investors can invest in it for maximum 1-3 years.

So, Sher Malang for what period of time have the international community assured you of support with money?, also once your industries and mining pick up - your needs can be self sustained.