Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, Afghan leaders talk strategy

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

10.20.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Beth Del Vecchio 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Beth Del Vecchio
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Key leadership from the Afghan Ministry of Defense and the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan gathered recently to discuss strategy and policy for the Afghan national army; among the topics: the way ahead for the ANA's 134,000 expansion plan.

Afghan Lt. Gen. Mohibullah, assistant Minister of Defense for Strategy and Policy, was among a group of 15 Afghan leaders attending the two-day workshop alongside their CSTC-A counterparts at Camp Eggers in Kabul.

According to officials, the workshop was aimed at creating a unity of effort between the two groups.

"Strategy and policy form the bedrock of any organization, and although our directorate is pleased with progress so far, there is a long way to go," said Col. Andrew Williams, CSTC-A Plans director. "We are however, determined to take forward the issues raised during the workshop to be able to have some tangible results at the end of the next quarter."

The group discussed different updates to directives regarding ANA strategy and policies, development plans that are currently in the works and then broke up into working groups to tackle issues faced within their directorate.

Among the current topics discussed, was the plan to extend the ANA from a current end-strength of 80,000 to 134,000. The group discussed the allotment of the forces and the challenges faced with the influx of Afghan soldiers.

"We can recruit and train faster than we can build," Williams said. "We need to match the infrastructure growth with the manning growth."

According to Williams, the Afghan leadership provides the overall image of what facilities can be consolidated and built and how water and power contracts can be managed as one, to free up money for weapons and equipment.

"We have a lot of work to do," Williams said. "We will not have success as a team unless we work together honestly and share our ideas openly and candidly."

According to Mohibullah, the two days were more than a workshop.

"These working groups and discussions will ensure improvements needed and will lead to successes not only in the strategy and policy directorate, but in the Ministry of Defense and the Afghan national army," he said. "The army's success is our team's success."

• Date Taken: 10.20.2008
• Date Posted: 10.20.2008 01:06
• Story ID: 25231
• Location: KABUL, AF