UK DM Says Afghan Army To Expand
'UK Shield Minister Says Afghan Army To Unfold', AlertNet, 21 October 2008
Pick out: "British Defence Secretary John Hutton made a knock someone for a loop visit to Afghanistan on Tuesday, visiting a former Taliban bulwark where he praised the work of the Afghan army. Hutton, appointed three weeks ago in a reshuffle of the British control, traveled to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, a restive quarter where the Taliban remain strong and where around 8,100 British troops are based. 'It is a lively sign of improving security conditions that I have been expert to stand in Musa Qala quarter centre today,' Hutton said in a annunciation, referring to a town in northern Helmand that till last year was still in Taliban hands. 'Afghan safe keeping forces, supported by international forces, are becoming more able and increasingly able to plan and cut off operations effectively. The Afghan Subject Army has been a considerable success story and I suffered plans to expand it.' Afghanistan's army currently stands at about 70,000 soldiers but there are plans to expatiate on it to around 135,000 in the coming years and scale give it more responsibility for security, taking over from the 70,000 overseas troops in Afghanistan. Despite the steps the army has bewitched, however, security analysts say a major facer remains the Afghan National Protect, which is widely regarded by Afghans and remote officials to be corrupt, inefficient and unprofessionally trained."
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