Lawmakers call for trust between Afghan and int’l security forces

PanARMENIAN.Net - Lawmakers appealed Sunday, Nov 11, to NATO nations to strive to restore trust between Afghan and international security forces following a surge in insider attacks, and to avoid jeopardizing the military operation’s achievements by accelerating their troop withdrawal plans, according to nato-pa.int.

In a resolution adopted by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Defense and Security Committee, they urged Allied governments in Afghanistan to stop so-called “green-on-blue” attacks from denting troop morale and undermining cooperation with Afghan forces. The lawmakers also warned that any new changes in national withdrawal plans before the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) leaves in 2014 could endanger the success of its decade-long mission.

“We strongly condemn the increasing number of green-on-blue attacks that strike at the very spirit of [our] essential cooperation. Both ISAF and Afghan national security forces have shown their intent on taking the necessary measures to stop these attacks. Yet it is also equally important that we show perseverance and that our allies in ISAF continue to abide by existing withdrawal plans in order for us to retain our gains,” said Sven Mikser, the Committee’s Rapporteur on Afghanistan.

NATO PA lawmakers are concerned that shifting the timetable of troop withdrawals might have a destabilizing impact on the ground, and leave the Afghan government and security forces vulnerable after 2014.

The parliamentarians urged ISAF nations to continue to provide robust security and development aid to the Afghan government and non-governmental organizations, and to boost literacy and vocational training for members of the Afghan security forces. Mikser underlined that the Afghan government should be seen as the “strongest player in the house” among the myriad political and ethnic forces by the time ISAF troops leave.

In the NATO PA Political Committee, lawmakers also underlined that the Afghan government must do more to strengthen democracy and combat rampant corruption. “Legitimizing the Afghan government and reducing corruption are essential,” said Daniel Bacquelaine, the Committee’s Rapporteur on Afghanistan and Southwest Asian security. “The Afghan government’s lack of political will to fight corruption seriously undermines economic growth and international aid efforts.”