ANA Facing Serious Problems: AREU Study Finds

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چهارشنبه 19 حوت 1394 ساعت 17:08 نوشته شده توسط TOLOnews.com

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The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) on Wednesday released the findings of their study for a Better Afghanistan and said the withdrawal of ISAF affected the overall well-being of the Afghan National Army (ANA), including their tactical performance.

In a statement issued by AREU, they said the ANA has experienced "a very difficult situation over the past year, including facing serious problems in recruitment, mobility and leadership".

AREU said that the number of causalities mounted to dramatic levels in 2015, and that the ANA has for the first time begun facing serious problems in recruitment, including a mounting problem of ghost soldiers.

The paper said that "the withdrawal of ISAF mentors from the ANA affected the overall logistical capabilities, planning, procurement, equipment maintenance and the administration, which resulted in lesser mobility of the ANA forces, compared to that of the insurgents".

In addition to this, AREU stated that the tactical performance of the ANA is affected by a serious leadership problem. "Appointments to senior positions are still heavily influenced by political interference, often resulting in the appointment of incompetent commanders", the paper said.

"As a result of all these, the morale in the ANA is in decline," their statement read.

They went on to state: "The political blockage in Kabul is a major cause of the inability of the MoD to improve its capability. But there are deeper causes too. The lack of equipment has been discussed in the media for years. Other causes are related to the post-2001 political settlement, which has not been discussed in this report. The weaknesses of the logistical system have been exposed more obviously, because the much-reduced RS (Resolute Support) mission can do little to address them."

They said that while deep reforms of the ANA are unlikely to be possible in the current emergency situation, some measures can be taken immediately to achieve rapid improvements. "One, recommended by many interviewees, is the replacement of the many commanders who have not performed. However, will the National Unity Govement (NUG) summon the strength to remove them, despite the political protection that they enjoy?"

AREU is an independent research institute based in Kabul. Its mission is to inform and influence policy and practice through conducting high-quality, policy-relevant research and actively disseminating the results, and to promote a culture of research and leaing.

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