Blog Posts tagged with "Kabul"

Here I am saluting Afghan police students during my visit to NPTC in Wardak, Afghanistan.

I just attended literacy training -- in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.

The class was full of Afghan National Police recruits.

It is part of the ongoing effort to increase literacy in the Afghan Security Forces, led by the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan and US Army Lieutenant General Bill Caldwell. The visit was the capstone event in a three day trip to Kabul, Kandahar, and Wardak.

Overall, the trip reinforced my sense that we are making good progress in the security sector. In briefings by the Commanding Generals in the South and East of the country -- where most of the security challenges lie -- it is clear that they have solid plans, sufficient forces, and are making steady inroads into the insurgency. In the south, for example, there are 20,000 coalition troops; but more importantly, there are over 40,000 Afghan troops. That 2:1 ratio of Afghan to coalition repeats itself in the east.

This is a big improvement over the past couple of years. It is also the reason that enemy-initiated attacks are down overall around 10% across the country from last year, and much more than that in the south and southwest. The *fighting season* has clearly been a disappointment to the Taliban who predicted a big upsurge in attacks and casualties, which has not emerged.

Afghan national police students during a dynamic presentation at NPTC in Wardak, Afghanistan.

More and more operations are Afghan-led and that is a good sign that the transition to Afghan-led security operations is well underway and working. Today, 25% of the Afghan population is under Afghan lead for security; within a few more months, that will be at 50%, which keeps us on track for a full transition by 2014.

There are certainly challenges in the security sector, including corruption (a "second insurgency" as one shrewd Afghan observer said to me recently). Also, the ability of the insurgency to move across the porous border with Pakistan presents a serious challenge to our efforts.

But overall, I remain cautiously optimistic about our plan and our progress in the security sector.

Here I am visiting Role 3 Hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

On my trip I also visited a hospital and saw the energy in Kandahar city, the second largest population center in Afghanistan. I received good updates on work in the judicial sector from the NATO Rule of Law Support Force. And I met with General John Allen, our superb NATO commander and the deeply experienced US Ambassador, Ryan Crocker. I also met with the Afghan Minister of Defense and lead for Transition, as well as the Chief of the Afghan Armed Forces. They have a clear-eyed view of the challenges ahead and are addressing them in a measured and sensible fashion.

But let me focus for a moment on literacy. The ability to read is limited in large segments of the Afghan population. Why? Because the Taliban largely restricted attendance to school during their period in power. They only allowed 600,000 children to attend school, all of them boys. Today there are 8 million boys and girls in school (40% female), so Afghanistan will "grow their way out" of the problem in another few years.

But today, there is a high demand for literate Afghans in all walks of life for the economy. One way the security forces can recruit for their all-volunteer force is by offering literacy training. So today all Army and Police recruits who cannot read undergo a well-taught course that starts them toward real literacy. The courses are taught by Afghan civilians, and I had the opportunity to spend some time in one of the classrooms.

Here I am speaking to Afghan police students during my visit to NPTC.

Two dozen very earnest young men in their early-to-mid twenties sit in a circle around their instructor. He is using traditional methods of teaching -- a white board, calling students to the blackboard to display their skills, books with pictures and letters. The course is fast-paced because the young recruits are hungry to learn. You can see it in their eyes and in the way their books are very thoroughly handled and marked up. The goal is to get everyone up to a 3rd grade level, and to afford downstream opportunities to continue to improve. So far, 200,000 Afghan security force members have been through or are enrolled in the training. This will be a very long lasting contribution to security and stability in Afghanistan.

Outside the classroom, not everything is going well, of course. There will be economic challenge in the next several years as the NATO-led coalition gradually reduces troops numbers and the purchase of goods and services slows in the country. Governance and corruption will present challenges as well. International conferences in Istanbul, Bonn, and the NATO summit in Chicago next spring will need to help address these problems.

But when I look back at where we were in the spring of 2009, two-and-a-half years ago, I can see the progress -- especially in the development of the Afghan security forces and the ongoing transition. I visit Afghanistan frequently, and my sense at this moment is that there is indeed hope in the time ahead, along with all the challenges.

Best,
Jim

Admiral, USN
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Commander, US European Command
"Stronger Together"

Hila Hanif, U.S. EUCOM Special Assistant for Muslim Outreach

I recently had the opportunity to join Admiral Stavridis for a second time on a trip to Afghanistan. I worked in Kabul from 2005-2007 in the development field and had little exposure to ISAF operations during that time, so for me it has been a wonderfully unique experience to observe the work of the NATO Mission.

On this last trip we took a tour of the National Military Academy of Afghanistan. Years ago a friend of mine, a graduate of West Point, proudly told me about “East Point”, the military academy in Afghanistan modeled after West Point. Last week when I spoke to a professor at the military academy, as we ended the conversation, he emphasized “one important point that you should know, we are modeled after West Point.” The pride with which they both described this relationship gave me a sense of the bonds being built by the Afghan soldiers and their ISAF partners.

My family emigrated from Afghanistan to the United States decades ago, and while Afghans sometimes laugh at my Americanized accent, I was able to speak with some students and soldiers from the commando unit in Dari, one of the official languages of Afghanistan, to get their impressions of the progress of the training mission. They spoke very proudly of the development of the academy, but more importantly, they emphasized their eagerness to serve their country.

One of ADM Stavridis' military assistants and I at Forward Operating Base Morales-Frazier

It is a significant achievement that the military academy is graduating hundreds of new, well-trained Afghan military officers each year. But from what I saw, their achievements go beyond that initial goal. They are providing these students and soldiers with a quality education that is not available to a large segment of the population, and giving them knowledge and skills that will be useful for them and for their country beyond the battlefield.

Just as important as the skills they are developing is the professional ethos and unity among the students. The military academy is bringing together Afghans from different regions of a war-torn and fractured country to work together. This is no small feat in a country that spent years fighting along ethnic divisions. When I asked a few students what part of Afghanistan they were from, several of them answered “I’m from Afghanistan, just Afghanistan,” not wanting to be categorized by region. After I heard that response a couple of times I realized it was deliberate. Given the history and current state of ethnic tension in Afghanistan, it was great to hear that the students and soldiers in this program are looking to work together for a national cause and work beyond ethnic differences.

The NATO training mission has developed a great model for capacity building and it’s no wonder that the students at the National Military Academy were so proud to be part of the institution.

Hila Hanif
U.S. European Command Special Assistant for Muslim Outreach
Fellow, Office of the Secretary of Defense Presidential Management

Last week I completed my sixth trip to Afghanistan since becoming SACEUR. As always, I was struck by the challenges we face – corruption, ANSF attrition, and IEDs to name a few. More importantly, however, I am encouraged by the progress I saw during my visit and am more convinced than ever than we can succeed in Afghanistan.  

Talking with French troops during a visit to Forward Operating Base Morales-Frazier, Afghanistan

I spent the bulk of my time visiting NATO forces in Regional Command East. In this region, one size does not fit all. The provinces vary significantly in many ways – enemy, terrain, economy, ethnicity, etc. Effective counterinsurgency requires experienced, well-trained leaders and forces that can think their way through complex situations and find just the right combination of programs and actions to stabilize the area. I was uniformly impressed by the quality of the comprehensive counterinsurgency operations our forces were executing.  

Task Force Lafayette, our French Battlegroup, operates to the northeast of Kabul in Kapisa Province. This fine unit has mastered the art of partnering and mentoring the ANSF. OMLTs and POMLTs operate throughout the province training and operating with their Afghan colleagues. As a result, the confidence, competence, and capabilities of their partner units are improving.  

Southwest of Kabul in Ghazni Province, Task Force White Eagle, our Polish Battlegroup is in a difficult fight with a determined enemy. In situations like this it is easy to default strictly to kinetic operations. Despite the challenge of a very dangerous enemy, Task Force White Eagle continues to take an integrated civilian military approach to stabilizing and developing Ghazni Province.  

Meeting the Polish commander at Forward Operating Base Ghazni

Overwhelmingly, I was struck by the quality of our servicemen and women. Both the French and the Polish Troops represented their nations and NATO in a superb fashion. I was delighted by the Afghan Forces I visited with, as well.  

I met with the faculty of Afghanistan’s National Military Academy. The graduating class of 2009 was 84 students, and the class of 2010 was 212. These are great numbers, but more encouraging is the fact that there are more than 3000 applicants for 650 available seats in the class of 2014.  

On a tour in the National Military Afghan Academy, talking to Afghan Commando Soldiers.

While at the academy, I was honored to meet with the ANA Commandos, an elite unit that maintains an impressive 100% retention rate. These great Soldiers, along with other SOF elements, have an enormous operational tempo. In the last 90 days, they executed 4000 precision operations taking the most dangerous enemy leaders off the battlefield. With such high standards and phenomenal retention rates, this unit is producing leaders that will help move the ANA forward for years to come.  

Undoubtedly, there are many challenges facing us in Afghanistan. The great news is that NATO and Afghan National Security Forces are meeting these challenges head on.  

Adm. James Stavridis
Commander, U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

Just back from two days in Kabul, and when I think back on the situation a year ago, the progress is very encouraging.

I met with Gen. Stan McChrystal, the commander of ISAF, his German Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Bruno Kasdorf, and his entire international team, as well as with a senior group of Afghan security experts, Generals, and Ministers and several hundred Afghan soldiers.

Meeting Afghan troops during my visit

Of note, I toured the Kabul Military Training Center, which is 20,000 acres and currently has nearly 10,000 trainees undergoing a series of warrior and combat training courses at all levels from senior officer to junior recruit. Each “kandak,” the Afghan equivalent of a battalion, comprises about 700 soldiers, instructed by our fine trainers. I saw them do everything from respond to Improvised Explosive Devices to administer first aid to attack mock “insurgents” to gather for leadership discussions. I came away impressed with their spirit and evident confidence.

Lt. Gen. Bill Caldwell, in his position of Commander of the NATO Training Mission, is in charge of training Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) throughout the country. He currently has over 30,000 Afghans in training as he builds their Army and Police to over 250,000 by this fall. Bill is full of energy, and brings a great deal of deep experience in training to the job. He has a multinational staff, with senior officers from most of the 46 nations that make up ISAF. Ensuring that he receives the right number and quality of trainers is my top priority as SACEUR.

Meeting one of our great U.S. Army soldiers.

Lt. Gen. Rod Rodriguez, a tall, rangy former West Point lineman leads ISAF operations across Afghanistan, with over 70,000 U.S. and 45,000 other NATO and non-NATO troops under his command. He briefed me on operations in southern Afghanistan, in the Taliban heartland, where progress is steady and the ratio of coalition to Afghan soldiers and policemen approaches 1:1 for the first time in the conflict.

Another strong leader is Vice Adm. Bob Harward, a Navy SEAL with a distinguished combat record in Afghanistan and a fluent Dari-speaker. Bob is in charge of US national detention operations, which will be the first key operation fully transitioned to Afghan leadership. He showed me the plans of the new Parwan detention facility and laid out the rule of law approach he is taking in partnership with the Afghan government and the international community.

As always, I spent time with both Gen. McChrystal and U.S .Ambassador Karl Eikenberry. They are a great team and fashioning an excellent civil-military partnership, along with other key leaders of the international effort. As the Afghan Deputy Minister of Defense said to me, “We will not deliver security from the barrel of a gun in Afghanistan.” He’s right – it will take the combined efforts of ISAF, the Afghan people, the international community, and the neighboring nations to succeed.

Receiving an update on the field from Army Col. Herman.

I’m encouraged and cautiously optimistic about Afghanistan. In addition to the good work by the security forces, there are increasingly good indicators about the economy and society (GDP up 20% last year; potentially huge mining deposits of iron, copper, lithium, and other minerals and metals; 12 million cell phones; 6 million children in schools, doubled over five years, over 40 % of them girls; number of teachers nationwide has doubled). Afghans seem to recognize this progress, and many national polls show strong confidence in the future of the country (70%+) and approval for the government (60%+), very favorable compared to many western countries.

Of concern, violence is up markedly over last year, largely the result of the efforts of both the ANSF and ISAF to take on the Taliban in their “home waters” down south. It will take perseverance and grit to get through what will be a dangerous and tough summer. The insurgency is stubborn and resilient, although largely ineffective in their attempts to attack our forces beyond the toll of IEDs. Overall, there are many challenges ahead; yet I would argue the prognosis for Afghanistan looks brighter today than a year ago, and I believe it will continue to improve.

For additional information, Michael O'Hanlon wrote a great article on the situation in Afghanistan. It's definitely worth reading.

Admiral James Stavridis
Commander, U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Maj. Kristi Beckman is the Chief of Social Media for European Command Public Affairs

This is Day 6 for the EUCOM social media team training in Kabul, Afghanistan and it's one that I'll remember for a long time to come.

I was awakened around 6:30 a.m. by an explosion that literally rocked our entire encampment. My normal routine of listening for the alarm and hitting the snooze button to wake up peacefully was more of a split-second jump out of bed with my heart pounding uncontrollably.

While so many are used to this over here, this is my first experience. And I don’t care who you are, this sound will chill you to the bone. There was another smaller explosion and small arms fire exchange continued for more than an hour but finally ceased.

So far the reports are that there was a vehicle explosion and 2-3 suicide bombers who blew themselves up in downtown Kabul and there are at least 10 dead and more than 30 wounded. Click here for the Times Online piece for a bit more detail.

This mission over here is so important and now more than ever as these guys are literally building institutions and training the Afghans to teach themselves and protect themselves. And the Afghan people here are really amazing and want so much to turn this country around. You can see it in their eyes and when you talk to them. They just want to have normal lives and raise a family.

The fact that some maniac over here can strap on a bomb and ride a bike or drive a car into a crowded area and take the lives of those around him just sickens me to no end. I will never understand the purpose of this…terrorizing and murdering innocent men, women and children…never.

If you’re reading this from the states or from Europe or somewhere else around the globe where you get up in the morning in your house or apartment and you have running water, food, clothes on your back, a family to love, a job to earn a living, and peace of mind that you will not die today walking to the market, be very thankful…please.

And more than anything PLEASE support our troops over here who are working so hard to make a difference in Afghanistan.

The NTM-A team will keep you posted on the accomplishments AND struggles through their NTM-A Web site blogs, news stories and social media sites. Follow them and support them as they are your sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, Moms and Dads who are away from their peace and freedom and really need your support in order to make a difference!

I’m back from spending a few days in Afghanistan last week – and I came away encouraged and optimistic about our approach.

In the course of three days in both Kabul and Herat, which is out west, I had the privilege to observe both ISAF and Afghan forces in action. With this trip complete and an important international conference on Afghanistan upcoming in London, I thought I'd take the opportunity to share a few observations with you.

My arrival in Kabul on Monday morning, January 18, amidst an insurgent attack in the capital was particularly timely. The Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) responded quickly and effectively to prevent the insurgents from disrupting government operations. It was inspiring to see firsthand the progress that Afghan forces have made, and the increasing responsibility they are assuming for their nation's security. All 15 insurgents were killed or captured, with a minimal loss of life on the Afghan side. Our NATO troops were NOT involved!

Here I am meeting the Afghan Kandak (Battalion) commander in Forward Operating Base Shindand.

This brings me to the subject of NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A). This mission is one of our top priorities. We must ensure that our NTM-A Commander, Lieutenant General Bill Caldwell, is fully resourced and capable of providing the essential training that will allow Afghan forces to take increasing responsibility for their nation's security -- as they did so admirably last Monday in Kabul.

I also flew out west to visit Herat, about 700km west of Kabul, where I was able to spend time with the Italian Commanding General Alessandro Veltri and his team of well over 5,000 NATO troops from a dozen nations. In Forward Operating Base SHINDAND, south of Herat, I met a brilliant Italian officer, Colonel Dei, who is supporting economic development through the establishment of micro-loan programs that supply Afghan women with seed money for small businesses. Such programs reach to the heart of the nexus between security, stability, and prosperity, and embody the comprehensive approach.

Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez shows me around the ISAF Joint Command at Kabul International Airport.

During this trip, I met with ISAF and Afghan leadership; I received dozens of briefings; I saw our troops in action. And at the end of it all, I left knowing that our efforts are making a real difference. The future of Afghanistan and the stability of the region are directly linked to the security of our own countries, our own citizens, and the broader international community. Our sacrifices have been great and more will be required of us, but they have brought with them a new momentum, matched by renewed international commitment.

Here I am with Italian Commanding General Allessandro Vetri during my visit to Herat.

The next big event is the London Conference on Afghanistan this week. I’ll be part of the NATO delegation, headed by Secretary General Rasmussen and accompanied by my good friend General Stan McChrystal. There will be a presentation on the security side of the situation, but the real emphasis of the conference is to match the civilian side of the equation to our military work. As I’ve said many times, we MUST get the balance right between the civil and military if we are to succeed – and we will.

At the conference, the United Nations and over 60 other delegations will be present to address the overall effort in Afghanistan. We’ll focus on governance, economics, and security. A key presentation will be by the Afghans themselves, as they lay out a course forward that includes everything from anti-corruption to ideas about reconciliation and reintegration of the Taliban.

Buckle up for 2010 in Afghanistan – it’ll be a fast ride, with lots of twists and turns. Yet overall I believe we can and will succeed.

Adm. James Stavridis
Commander, U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

I started last week in Lisbon, on the heels of a trip to Stuttgart the previous Friday for staff briefings at European Command (EUCOM) and EUCOM's Annual Summer Reception, which included a spectacular concert with an Elvis Presley impersonator in full U.S. Army regalia!

I was in Lisbon for a significant event: the change of command of the major NATO Headquarters there, where a senior French officer took command of a key NATO military post.

Me handing the guidon to Lt Gen Philippe Stoltz

I was very proud to officiate and speak, along with the Portuguese Minister of Defence, Nuno Severiano Teixeira, as Lieutenant General Phillipe Stoltz, a French Army 3-star, proudly took command.  Over some good Portuguese wine in the officer’s mess later, I was able to personally welcome Phillipe. I said, “C’est un jour important pour France, mais c’est un jour magnifique pour notre l’Alliance.” (It is an important day for France, but it is a magnificent day for our alliance).

I also visited an innovative organization: the Maritime Analysis and Operations Center. This small group with representatives from seven European nations is focused on counter-narcotics from their operations center in Lisbon. Comparable to the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West (with whom they frequently collaborate), they seek to coordinate the law enforcement efforts of European nations to stem the flow of into the continent drugs (estimated by JIATFS to be in the region of 550+ tons of cocaine annually, for example). Headed up by an exuberant Brit, Tim Manhire, they have shown much success and I hope to partner with them under my European Command hat in interagency and international counter-narcotic work.

ANA soldier on patrol in a poppy field

From there, I flew to Kabul. I left one important area of the world to another one that I care deeply about. I had meetings first with our brilliant NATO Commander, General Stan McChrystal.  Although relatively recently arrived, the energy, drive, and intelligence of the new commander were on clear display. We had a long talk about our approach, as well as his initial tactical directives. We generally agreed that:

• Protecting the Afghan people must be the central focus of our operations   – protecting them and gaining their trust
• We must quickly build the Afghan National Army and Police to a level that permits them to gradually take responsibility throughout their land. At the end of the day, “all true security is local.”
• Cooperation with all civil elements – the United Nations mission, the various embassies, all of the international aid organizations – is crucial. Based on my experiences in Latin America and the Caribbean, I’ve come to believe that security is seldom delivered by the barrel of a gun.
• International, interagency, combined military and even private-public integration will be the keys.

President Karzai and me

I also had meetings with President Hamid Karzai; Minister of Defense Abdul Rahim Wardak; NATO Senior Civilian Representative, Ambassador Fernando Gentilini; Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Ambassador Kai Eide; and U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and his team of senior leaders (including five full ambassadors).

Minister Wardak and me

Everyone recognizes the seriousness of the situation, and there is a great deal of focus on the upcoming election, scheduled for 20 August. Ensuring proper security and a full and free path to the polling stations is foremost in everyone’s mind at the moment.

My scheduled trip to the north – to Konduz, where our German allies are working hard – fell through with an aircraft problem, but both General McChrystal and I were able to provide the North Atlantic Council and Military Committee (28 Ambassadors and 28 senior military representatives) with a full briefing from the field.

Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara

After leaving Afghanistan, I flew directly to Turkey for two days of meetings and visits with our Turkish allies.  In addition to placing a wreath at the Mausoleum of Ataturk, I held meetings with Ambassador Jim Jeffries and the Turkish senior leadership.  I had a good one-on-one with General İlker Başbuğ, the Turkish Chief of Defense, and we discussed Turkey’s excellent contributions in Afghanistan, their increasing regional leadership role, cooperation on the border with Iraq against the terrorist PKK, and future engagement.
 

Mr. Mustafa Hakki Ozer, Muftu of Ankara, Mr. Kadir Temel, Imam of the Kocatepe Mosque and me

Turkey is a vital and important NATO ally, and for me it was a chance to return to the nation from which my grandfather and grandmother emigrated to the United States, after stopping briefly in Greece.

As I write this flying back to Mons and my new home in Belgium, I am struck by the scale of the past week – Stuttgart to Lisbon to Kabul to Ankara – and the range of issues.  All are connected by the NATO alliance: the bridge that allows a flow of ideas, interaction, and good works, today on three continents in this turbulent world.