Afghanistan Times
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Without ifs and buts the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) always remained unsurpassed in the battlefield against anti-government elements. They come up with a tremendous performance against insurgents and always stand firmed to serve the country in the extremely fluid security situation. The ANSF proved the mettle and standing firm against internal and foreign aggressions. Furthermore, the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states reiterated commitment to continue financial support to the Afghan security forces until the end of 2020. The NATO member states had agreed to continue helping Afghan security forces in three areas of training, advising and equipping. These three elements are important for the stability of Afghanistan. Moreover, Afghan Air Force recently received four A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircrafts form the US as part of the A-29 program aimed at training Afghan pilots in employing weapon system and combating insurgents. Afghanistan also received 12 MD 530 helicopters equipped with enhanced mission equipment. Before that, three MI-25 gunship helicopters donated by India joined the Afghan Air Force. The attack helicopters are designed to take on fortified enemy positions and counter heavy ground fire.
It is worth mentioning that we are not only receiving military assistance from our allies, but at the same time, these states are also helping us in bringing the prolonged war into a logical end through pushing the insurgents into table of talks. The participation of the United States, China and Pakistan in three rounds of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) meetings indicates that they are working for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. Furthermore, a senior European Union diplomat said that an international conference on stability in Afghanistan will be convened in Brussels later this year. Hinting to the Iran’s influential role in the region, the European Union’s deputy secretary-general for the external action service Helga Maria Schmid called on Tehran to consider participating in the mentioned conference. This follows former President Hamid Karzai’s statement that Russia, Iran and India should also be included in the ongoing efforts to revive the stalled Afghan peace process. Nobody will deny the fact that these countries’ roles are very important for the Afghan peace process.
These intentioned efforts can be taken as signs of hope and the Afghan masses have already pinned high hopes to the current efforts of Afghanistan’s allies in restoration of peace and stability in the country. This time, situation is quite different as willingness is seen among all stakeholders in Afghanistan’s conflict. Optimistically, these efforts might yield tangible results and eventually overwhelm uncertainty in the country.
