By Farid Behbud, Zhang Jianhua
KABUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The NATO and U.S. forces are going to hand over the security responsibilities to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and begin a withdrawal from insurgency-hit country in July this year.
The war-weary Afghans are concerned whether the Afghan army and police would be able to bear the burden of security without help in the absence of foreign forces.
"Personally, I welcome the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. I think the drawdown of U.S. forces has been laid out by military officials after speculation on improving the security situation in parts of the country," Abdul Basir, 45, said to Xinhua in an interview in Afghan capital Kabul on Thursday.
However, the bearded man expressed concerns, saying, "The U.S. and the ternational troops are going to begin pulling out from Afghanistan in July but we do doubt the capability of our national forces to discharge their responsibility as needed."
Corroborating his notion, Basir said, "The corruption in administration is extensively rampant and the Afghan security forces have not acquired necessary weaponry particularly aircrafts to act independently in fight against Taliban."
The strength of ANSF at the moment is 297,000 which include some 166,000 army, 131,000 police. The strength of ANSF would reach to 305,000 by October this year.
Meanwhile, another Afghan resident Bashir, 35, in talks with Xinhua's scribe looked with pessimism about the future particularly in the field of economy.
"Despite its claim of success the government and international forces have actually failed to rein the terrorist groups and provide security for the common people especially in far-flung provinces,."
"We demand the government to take all steps to bring security and stability in Afghanistan and to provide job opportunities for people," he further said.
"The U.S. forces withdrawal from Afghanistan would strengthen Taliban morale in fighting Afghan and NATO-led forces in Afghanistan and Taliban will think the withdrawal will be a victory for them against Afghan and international forces," Bashir opined.
However, he maintained he is not optimistic for national security forces to secure all 34 provinces after NATO and U.S. forces withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014.
The U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday night in Washington announced his plans for Afghanistan troops' drawdown that is set to begin in July, ordering 10,000 troops from the insurgency-hit country by year-end with a total of 33,000 troops to be out by summer 2012.
The plans would withdraw all the "surge troops" he sent to Afghanistan in late 2009 to strengthen the fight against the Taliban fighters.
Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman General Zahir Azimi on Wednesday told reporters in a weekly press conference that Afghan soldiers were ready to take security of seven areas including three provinces in July.
"We are confident that ANSF is enough capacity and ability to ensure security for the country," Azimi said.
However, he warned the transition process will be a difficult task and there would be some tough battles, suicide bombings and insurgent attacks all over the country in coming weeks and months.
Special Report: Afghanistan Situation
