Afghan forces capable to protect polls: Gen. Karimi

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Chief of Army Staff Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi on Monday said Afghan security forces were capable enough to deal with the country’s security challenges.

Gen. Karimi, who visited northern provinces to examine security measures put in place for polling stations, also held talks with a number of high-ranking security officials.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News there was no critical security problem for the Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers in northern Afghanistan.

He said Afghan forces had improved a lot in terms of skills and professional ability.

The Chief of Army Staff insisted Afghan forces were competent enough to maintain sustainable security for the upcoming presidential and provincial council elections.

However, he said the geographical locations in Faryab and Badakhshan provinces could pose some challenges, which he said would be overcome in the lead up to the April vote.

Gen. Karimi said ANA troops were 95 percent prepared from the prospective of training and equipment, adding the troops would be able to maintan security on their own after the international forces’ withdrawal by this year’s end.

mrh/ma

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