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Afghanistan: Holding the line

What are the challenges facing the Afghan army as it prepares to take over responsibility for the country’s security?

Afghanistan: An army prepares
When the US withdraws its troops from Afghanistan in 2014, many wonder if the country(***)s own forces will be able to hold the line against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Helmand, November 20, 2012.
By John D McHugh
Published On 16 Dec 2012

As the 2014 withdrawal draws closer, and the US-led coalition prepares to hand power over to the Afghanistan National Army (ANA), filmmaker John D McHugh spent nearly a month in Afghanistan looking at the ANA’s training in Kabul and in Helmand. What he found was an infantry army ready to fight, but a belief amongst those soldiers that they lack the equipment and logistics to hold the line.

Afghanistan: An army prepares
In order to be able to leave and not have Afghanistan collapse immediately on their departure, the Americans announced at the end of 2009 that the size of the ANA would be increased to almost 200,000 soldiers.Helmand, November 17, 2012.
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Afghanistan: An army prepares
A huge recruitment and training drive began, with new military training centres being set up around the country to facilitate the explosion in numbers. Helmand, November 17, 2012.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
As the soldiers come to the end of their training cycle, they take their soldier(***)s oath. Helmand, November 8, 2012.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
Placing their hands on a Quran, they take an oath to defend Afghanistan at the Regional Training Centre in Helmand on November 8, 2012.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
There is no doubt that this huge new army is plagued with problems, but by far the biggest is the sheer turnover of men - currently running at about 30 per cent a year so the ANA has to find replacements for around 60,000 men every year.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
Desertion rates are high: By the Afghan Defence Ministry(***)s own admission, every year 7-10 per cent of troops just walk out. Helmand on November 11, 2012.
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Afghanistan: An army prepares
The casualty rate is high, with more than 850 soldiers confirmed killed in 2012 alone, and a great many more wounded. Helmand, November 11, 2012.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
As the ANA takes over the lead role in providing security throughout Afghanistan in 2013, both figures are expected to increase dramatically.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
Recently, almost all social interaction between coalition troops and the ANA has seized because of the rapid rise of what is known as (***)green on blue attacks(***). Helmand, November 13, 2012.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
The Taliban routinely claim responsibility for all these assaults, reinforcing the perception in the West that the Afghans cannot be trusted. Helmand, November 17, 2012.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
As the US-led coalition prepares to hand power over to the Afghanistan National Army (ANA), many soldiers believe that they lack the equipment and logistics to hold the line.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
The ANA still depends on the US-led coalition for logistics, maintenance, intelligence-gathering and analysis, artillery and air support, medical evacuation and more. Helmand, November 20, 2012.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
Many soldiers complain that the M-16 is an ineffective weapon in Afghanistan, prone to malfunction and misfire due to the build up of dirt, whereas the Afghan soldiers(***) old weapon, the AK-47 was able to continue working in the worst of conditions.
Afghanistan: An army preparesg
The AK-47 is widely-used by the Taliban, so the ammunition for it is readily available. If an ANA soldier deserts to the Taliban he will struggle to find bullets for his M-16. Cynics in the ANA say that they are being forced to fight with a rifle that jams, purely because their allies want to stop it of being any use to the other side. Helmand, November 10, 2012.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
After years of playing a support role of the coalition forces, the Afghan army now has to get ready to hold the line on its own. Helmand, November 11, 2012.
Afghanistan: An army prepares
But how can the Afghan army, however dedicated, achieve what the far greater resourced "Coalition of the Willing" has failed to do over the past 11 years?