WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Afghanistan's Defense Minister Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak has said he hopes the United States speed the training and equipping of the Afghan military.
American Forces Press Service reported from Washington on Nov. 21 that while Afghan military and security forces are steadily moving towards the government's eventual goal of defending the Afghan people, increased U.S. and coalition support could hasten the progress.
Wardak, appearing in Washington together with Army Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, commander of Combined Forces Command Afghanistan, stressed that Afghanistan wants to increase the tempo of the timetable established through the Afghanistan Compact, an agreement between the Afghan government, the United Nations and interested nations.
The compact sets a goal for increasing the Afghan National Army to 70,000 by late 2010 or early 2011; Wardak would like to shorten the time line to about October 2008. Wardak stressed a number of successes that he believes support a shortened time-frame, including his observation that the Afghan National Army continues to grow professionally, demonstrating "great courage and fighting skill alongside U.S. and international forces," its growing professional experience working alongside U.S. and international forces during Operations Mountain Lion, Mountain Thrust, Medusa, Mountain Fury and Eagle.
Wardak said, "Once we are well-trained and well-equipped, we will be able to pay some of our debt to the international community by participating in peacekeeping operations."
