Stars and Stripes
May 23, 2015
Top general predicts longer international presence in Afghanistan
By Josh Smith
KABUL, Afghanistan: As Afghan forces try to fend off attacks by resurgent militants, the top coalition commander has been meeting with NATO leaders to hammer out details of a plan that could keep thousands of international advisers in the country for years to come.
“There is overwhelming support to do something” to continue to aid the Afghan security forces,” Gen. John Campbell, who commands both NATO’s Resolute Support mission as well as the American counterterrorism force in Afghanistan, told reporters in Kabul on Saturday.
What exactly that “something” is remains to be seen, but Campbell said some thirty countries have voiced support for a continued international mission in Afghanistan. NATO leaders have said they are planning for a civilian-led military mission to continue after the current training and advising-focused Resolute Support mission expires at the end of 2016.
Campbell said as many as 1,000 troops supported by contractors and other civilians could remain in Afghanistan past 2016 to try to help Afghan security forces stave off attacks by Taliban and other insurgent groups.
“We’ve said all along that there are some capability gaps that need to be filled,” he said, adding that Afghan forces will likely need help with air support, intelligence, logistics, and leadership development for years to come. Future international aid will be based on requests from the Afghan government, Campbell said.
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