The Afghan National Army took another step closer to meeting its goal of a 134,000 soldiers by October 2010, with the graduation of almost 800 troops from an accelerated, combat-company training program, a press release of NATO said.

 “They’re looking forward to getting on the ground and putting into practice the training we have put them through in the last five week,” said U.K. Army Capt. Allister Swift a assistant mentor for the Soldiers  going through the accelerated training.

According to NATO commanders, the new training that is call accelerated combat training program would enable the NATO troops to train at least 134,000 Afghan soldiers by October of 2010 and the new troopers would take the security of their won country from NATO troops in all Afghanistan.

Military experts believe that this is going to be the clear step of NATO troops that is seeking to fix a timetable for their exist from Afghanistan. At the same time, a new NATO Training Mission has opened up in Kabul in order to create a unified command for the training of Afghan security forces. In a ceremony held at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell, IV, the new commander of NATO training mission in Afghanistan spoke about the opening of the mission and said Coalition troops are focusing on Afghanistan’s sustainability and freedom.

This multi-nation partnership will foster new and existing relationships and build on the already expanding task of training and mentoring the Afghan National Security Forces in preparation for the future security and sustainment of Afghanistan. “Our mission is about teaming with Afghans to build a bright, dynamic future for this sovereign nation.  As the NTM-A/CSTC-A mission has evolved, so has the mindset governing our outlook and perspective.” Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell said.

According to Lt. Gen. Caldwell, “This new mindset, a mindset that challenges us to focus on the people of Afghanistan, requires us to be agile, adaptive, culturally respectful, and innovative.  With this mission, and this new mindset, the path to success for NTM-A/CSTC-A lies with 3 T’s; teaming, transparency, and transition.”

Currently there are 95,000 Afghan army and 93,000 Afghan police are fighting Taliban beside 110,000 foreign soldiers. Taliban have spread their influence from south of the country to the most peaceful of Northern provinces.

Before that Gen. Stanly McChrystal has requested the U.S. President Barack Obama to send more 40,000 troops so to fight back the Taliban insurgency in the country. President Barack Obama is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether to send 40,000 soldiers to Afghanistan as Gen. McChrystal request.

Written by Rahim Aria

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Photo: U.S. Army