By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, May 1, 2014 – The chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived here tonight for a series of meetings with
senior U.S. and coalition leaders and with American service members.
This is Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey’s second visit to
Afghanistan in as many months.
His visit comes on the heels of the release of the
semiannual Report of Security and Stability in Afghanistan. The report says
that Afghan security forces did an excellent job in securing the April 5
presidential election in the country.
However, the report also said Afghan forces lack crucial
capabilities: air support, the intelligence enterprise, special operations, and
security ministry capacity.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force is
planning for its mission to end Dec. 31 and transition to Operation Resolute
Support. This, however, is contingent upon Afghan leaders signing the bilateral
security agreement with the United States.
The already negotiated and agreed-to pact would be a
blueprint for other NATO and partner nations. Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s
refusal to sign it means uncertainty for what follows the end of the ISAF
mission. No coalition country can forecast its post-2014 presence, and the
Taliban are trying to capitalize on the absence of an agreement to instill fear
among Afghans.
The two top vote-getters in Afghanistan’s April 5 election
will face off in a run-off election. Both candidates have said they will sign
the security agreement.
While NATO planning has been for a post-2014 force of 8,000
to 12,000 troops to train and advise the Afghans, President Barack Obama has
not yet decided on the number of U.S. troops that may be kept in Afghanistan if
the Afghan government signs the agreement.
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