22 March An important day in afghan history

22 March 2011 will be an important date in the modern history of Afghanistan with the government announcing a transition in seven areas which were mostly expected but for the southern city of Lashkar Gah. Kabul except Sarobi district, Bamyan and Panjshir as well as Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat and Mehterlam have not witnessed much violence though the capital has had a series of major incidents it is largely under the control of the Afghan security forces. The French were keen that the Surobi district should also be handed over but the threat to the same keeping in view the transit route to the Pakistan border and access to Kabul remains. However this should be a positive though some say only a symbolic step in the country. This is line with the overall objective agreed to by the leaders of the troop contributing countries at Lisbon in November 2010 that Afghan forces will lead performing the security tasks by the end of 2014. There is increasing confidence that this would be so in the days ahead and with considerable progress in the past six months, though the path will continue to remain uncertain and full commitment would be necessary.

in reference to: Karzai addresses NATO transition at NMAA graduation (view on Google Sidewiki)

A good initiative

The role of mobile training teams in COIN operations being carried out in a country which has different regional profiles may be questioned initially but the content of the training being imparted indicates that this is quite relevant given that essentially it is spreading the message of larger guidance and ensuring that troops on the ground stay rooted to the basic principles of COIN which include people centric operations. The Mobile Training Team would also have to weave in the Afghan National Army personnel as much as possible and enhance the understanding of foreign troops on the peculiar requirements in Afghanistan particularly the cultural congruencies required from time to time.

in reference to: COIN Center Trains Partnered Forces (view on Google Sidewiki)

A Holistic ANA

There is much criticism of the poor progress on building up the Afghan National Army and the Police however the process would be essentially slow as many of the functions such as the clerical ones which are being taught in the courses to a select few have to be undertaken from the scratch. Therefore it is not just fighting or raw skills of soldiering that have to be taught or rather reoriented for Afghan youth who are good fighters in any case but also ancillary administrative functions. Training is therefore holistic and balanced therefore indicating a solid base for the ANA and the Police in the future. The infra structure for training that is being created is also likely to support the security forces for years and is therefore welcome.

in reference to: DVIDS - News - Joint Security Academy Southwest graduates 20 ABP, ANA members (view on Google Sidewiki)

End of McChrystal Era in Afghanistan

Reopening of Pizza Hut at Camp Phoenix in Kabul and the allegations of death of scores of civilians in a raid in Kunar province possibly marks the end of the McChrystal era in Afghanistan which saw equity in the soldiers roughing it out in the field and the base camps as well as a reduction in the civilian casualties in Afghanistan

in reference to: DVIDS - News - First fast-food vendor reopens in Afghanistan (view on Google Sidewiki)

Improve Capacity with numbers

The survey showing 40 percent of the people in the South supporting the Taliban and only popularity of the police dropping from 67 percent to 48 percent in the South would possibly denote the level of militancy and the differences between the various regions of the country. This is so as the overall nationwide popularity of the police forces is very high at 79 percent, thus making the same more than acceptable. The low level of preference in the south would need more deliberation as the reasons could be many including the ethnic composition of the police and police social behavior and response towards civil society as well as violence. Even as the numbers are improving, it is apparent that the overall capacity remains poor and that is the worrying factor.

in reference to: Afghan police 'nearly as unpopular as Taliban in south' | World news | The Guardian (view on Google Sidewiki)

Jairam Ramesh

Making waves but also giving the go ahead to Posco and Lavasa after raising the ruckus

in reference to: Maverick Jairam Ramesh makes waves | Reuters (view on Google Sidewiki)

An Effective Training Tool

On the job training in the midst of operations in Kandahar is one way of ensuring that the troops can build their capacities while being actively engaged in operations during short breaks. While such troops would not require basic training in counter insurgency skills, scenario building technique provides an effective medium to enhance those skills which require to be progressed based on short comings noticed and the likely type of encounters faced in the ongoing operations. Mobile training teams may therefore prove to be a highly useful and very dynamic mechanism to enhance operational competencies while actual engagements are ongoing in the country.

in reference to: Mobile Training Teams Teach Counter-Insurgency in Kandahar (view on Google Sidewiki)