Afghan Army Ready in Four Years: Gen

Josh Pringle
Monday, October 5, 2009

The chief spokesman for the Afghan military suggests the Afghan National Army will be ready to fight without the direct help of international forces by 2013.

In an interview with the Globe and Mail, General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said “within the next four years we will take the complete responsibility of the security from the international community, and the international forces will stay on their bases to support ANA forces.”

Canada’s combat mission is scheduled to end in Afghanistan in 2011.

Canadian Brigadier-General Eric Tremblay admits it is not unrealistic to assume the Afghan army could be operating independently within four years.

Tremblay adds right now, the Afghan Army is in charge of security in Kabul.