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Afghanistan: NATO retreat might be speeded up
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s secretary-general told that he will be putting some pressure for a faster retreat from Afghanistan that planned. NATO is to make new decisions regarding military presence in the country and in some areas the soldiers could be even retreated: “From now until the end of 2014 you may see adaptation of our presence. Our troops can redeploy, take on other tasks, or even withdraw, or we can reduce the number of foreign troops”, he says. Future decisions will highly depend on the situation from the field of operations.
The military organization is planning to withdraw a number of 120.000 soldiers until the end of 2014, leaving a trained Afghan Security Force, numbering an estimated 352.000 to secure the country. This strategy is part of the NATO plan to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan and eventually to leave the country entirely in the hands of local forces from 2014. But plans could be influenced by the recommendations made by US General, chief of operations John Allen in a report which will come later this year.
Last Sunday, the British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced the retreat of thousands of troops from Afghanistan next year. Talking about the troop withdrawals Hammond told the BBC: “I would expect it will be significant, which means thousands, not hundreds, but I would not expect it to be the majority.” Until the end of this year UK intends to withdraw 500 soldiers and by the end of 2013 another 4500 troops.
The Germans are also preparing for reducing the number of their troops stationed in Afghanistan ahead of schedule. Even if, according to Der Spiegel, the German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle had agreed that the army’s new mandate would be longer than the usual 12 months the German troops from Afghanistan will be reduced under 4,000 by the end of 2014.
Even though the NATO forces will leave the country in 2014, further training mission are planned for the Afghan forces from 2015 in order for them to control the situation in the best way. In addition the number of US forces will be maintained in the country as part of a deal made between Kabul and Washington.
SOURCES:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/01/nato-forces-afghanistan-early-retreat
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/14/us-britain-afghanistan-withdrawal-idUSBRE89D03F20121014
