By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – The threat of attacks on
coalition service members by Afghan security forces is a complex problem that
requires a comprehensive, integrated and combined response from coalition and
Afghan officials, the commander of NATO'S International Security Assistance
Force said in a written statement issued today.
“The challenges of the Afghan operating
environment are many and countering this threat requires unwavering vigilance,
close cooperation and a constant assessment of the situation,” Marine Corps
Gen. John R. Allen said. “There is no one single solution or simple means to
deal with the challenge posed by insider threats. But I can assure our friends
and foes alike that I take this issue very seriously and my entire command is
absolutely driven to do everything we can to reduce this threat.”
Afghan security forces or attackers
wearing Afghan uniforms have killed 45 ISAF service members this year.
“It's important for everyone to
understand the work that is being done,” Allen said in his statement. “There is
a great deal of activity at all levels of ISAF, in our communications and
coordination with the Afghan government, and in our military-to-military
cooperation between the coalition and the Afghan national security forces.”
The dedication to eradicating the threat
runs from the highest levels of ISAF headquarters to every Afghan and coalition
service member in Afghanistan’s most remote corners, Allen said, noting that
the attacks threaten both coalition and Afghan forces and require a coalition
and Afghan solution.
The general noted he approved a delay in
training about 1,000 new recruits for the Afghan Local Police program, in which
villagers in remote areas of Afghanistan provide security in their communities
with training from U.S. forces and under the auspices of Afghanistan’s Interior
Ministry and provincial chiefs of police. The training delay will free up
resources to re-vet the 16,000 Afghans already serving as local police.
“This force is on the job today, working
and achieving results alongside other Afghan and coalition forces,” Allen
added. “The immediate operational impact of this decision is that about 1,000
ALP recruits who have not yet entered in the training pipeline will be delayed
for a relatively short time while the Afghan government, with coalition
support, conducts the necessary checks to ensure we are doing all we can to
protect our people.”
Special Operations Joint Task Force
Afghanistan, led by Army Maj. Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, oversees Afghan Local
Police training and recommended the delay, Allen said, noting he approved it in
his capacity as commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan.
“Other subordinate commanders within
ISAF and U.S. Forces Afghanistan are assessing the situations within their
particular areas and for their specific missions,” Allen said. “Through their
combined efforts and inputs, overseen and coordinated at the highest level, we
will be best positioned to defeat insider attacks. The entire coalition and our
[Afghan] partners are moving as one toward that end.”
The decision to delay ALP recruit
training also helps maintain and reinforce the reputation of the Afghan Local
Police as a legitimate, trained and properly overseen arm of Afghanistan’s
national security force at the local level, Allen said. “It supports the
continuing ISAF and Afghan government’s efforts to professionalize this force,”
he added.
The general dismissed recent allegations
of reprisal killings by local police in Kanam in Kunduz province.
“There are no ALP forces serving in this
area, yet these rumors gain credence in certain sectors because of inaccurate
reporting and confusion of the ALP with unauthorized, illegitimate local
militias that have long been a feature of local community life in Afghanistan,
but which are now a comparatively rare phenomenon as the Afghan government
extends its influence,” he said.
The change to the training timeline
applies only to the Afghan Local Police and does not affect the rest of
Afghanistan’s security forces, Allen emphasized. And it is only one of many
recent actions taken to confront insider attacks, he said, adding that he has
communicated frequently with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the issue.
“I have his personal assurance that the
Afghan government and military are full partners in our efforts to eradicate
this problem,” Allen said. “My senior commanders and staff are also holding
frequent meetings with representatives of the Afghan government and security
forces at the national and local levels to coordinate further effective
action.”
The general stressed the need for the
coalition, Afghan forces and the Afghan government to work together in meeting
the challenges of insider threats.
“The problem of insider attacks hurts
our Afghan partners as much as they hurts us, and like the battle for stability
in Afghanistan, insider attacks are a problem that we are only going to solve
through steadfast partnership,” he said. And in the meantime, he added, every
day provides examples of solid cooperation throughout Afghanistan.
“On any given day, the 350,000 members
of the Afghan national security forces continue to relentlessly pressure the
insurgency in every corner of this country,” he said. “This includes 8,000
Afghan commandos and 3,000 Afghan National Army special operations forces, who
recently themselves underwent intensive re-vetting without missing an
operational step.”
Similar efforts are occurring in other
sectors of the Afghan security forces, he added. “This point is proof positive
that we can do what we need to protect the force, in full partnership with the
Afghan government and security forces, all while keeping unrelenting pressure
on the insurgents,” he said.
The general also outlined various steps
being taken to deal with the insider threat:
-- The organization and execution of
major conferences with top commanders and senior Afghan representatives;
-- A new executive oversight group of
senior Afghan and coalition leaders to monitor, direct and drive threat
mitigation initiatives, supported by a combined multi-agency working group
whose only task is to tackle the insider threat problem.
-- Improvements to the vetting process
for new Afghan recruits;
-- An increase in the number of
counterintelligence teams in coalition and Afghan formations;
-- Helping the Afghan national security
forces develop new procedures for Afghan National Army soldiers returning from
leave;
-- An anonymous insider threat reporting
system;
-- Enhancement of intelligence exchange
between Afghan forces and the coalition; and
-- Establishment of a joint
investigation commission to study incidents and to identify lessons and
required actions.
“The sum total of our combined efforts
will be that we are better protected,” Allen said. “Central to success is
maintaining and strengthening our bonds with our Afghan brothers and
recognizing this is a threat directed at us all.
“Relentless pursuit of the enemy is a
key line of operation, and this applies equally to the insider threat,” he
continued. “I can assure you that we will sustain our focus on this threat and
we will constantly review, adapt and modify our arrangements to deliver maximum
protection to our troops.”
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