Afghan National Security Forces: Achieving Balance Before International Support Wanes
Abstract
The ability of Afghanistan to provide its own security is the essential task to ensure successful development as a sovereign nation. As presently agreed through the London Accords, the growth of the Afghan National Army (ANA) to 171,600 soldiers and the Afghan National Police (ANP) to 134,000 police by the end of 2011 is an incorrect balance. To establish and sustain a security environment in the near future, the ANA should be developed to 188,000 soldiers and the ANP should be limited to 117,600 police by the end of 2011. Essential factors affecting the balance include: training capacity; organizational effectiveness and public perceptions of the ANA and the ANP; and the financial costs of manning and equipping the forces. Additional factors include the regional and domestic political environment, social dynamics within Afghanistan, and the impact of corruption within the government and Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). The international community and Afghanistan must readjust their efforts to balance the force structure between the ANA and the ANP by properly manning, training, and equipping the ANSF to achieve a better balance of capability to win the current counterinsurgency and provide lasting security for Afghanistan.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 30, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA523913
Entities
People
- Thomas J. Trossen
Organizations
- United States Army War College