WASHINGTON, May 9 (UPI) -- Afghan armed forces are gaining in size and, along with coalition forces, have reversed terrorist momentum in Afghanistan, a coalition commander said Wednesday.
British Royal Army Lt. Gen. Adrian J. Bradshaw, deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force, said the Afghan campaign is "in a good place right now."
"Across the theater, [we've seen] Afghan national security forces increasing in strength, capability and confidence," Bradshaw said. "ISAF troops [are] more and more ... providing advice and assistance, but letting the Afghans get to grips with the major combat operations. They have surprised us, and I think they've surprised themselves, with how well they've performed in a whole range of different sorts of operations across the theater."
Bradshaw said an agreement signed between U.S. President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai last week has boosted Afghan confidence the coalition will provide support of security efforts beyond 2014, a release from the Defense Department reported.
"It sets a very good baseline for the Chicago conference, where we hope and expect that nations will come forward and commit funding to the Afghan forces for beyond 2014," Bradshaw said. "And so it's a major achievement."
