U.S. report warns Afghan forces not capable of securing country
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 11 January 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. report warns Afghan forces not capable of securing country, 11 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a42713.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 11, 2017
It says Afghan security forces have "not yet been capable of securing all of Afghanistan and has lost territory to the insurgency."
Afghanistan needs a "stable security environment to prevent it from again becoming a safe haven for Al-Qaeda or other terrorists," a U.S. report says.
The report was released on January 11 by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which gives independent oversight of U.S. reconstruction funds for the country.
It says Afghan security forces have "not yet been capable of securing all of Afghanistan and has lost territory to the insurgency."
Most NATO-led foreign combat forces pulled out of Afghanistan in 2014, leaving nearly 10,000 U.S. troops behind.
Afghan forces have since struggled to fend off the Taliban, which has gained control of more territory than any time since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
SIGAR described corruption as "one of the most serious threats to the U.S.-funded Afghanistan reconstruction effort."
"Powerful drug networks, mainly run by close-knit families and tribes, bankroll the insurgency and launder money," it also said.
With reporting by AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
