Kabul, January 28: Residents in east Afghanistan have voiced concern about the fighting power of army soldiers, saying militants are better equipped than government forces, Press TV reports.
People in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province in east Afghanistan, say they are worried about the quality of weapons handed to Afghan army and police to fight militants, Press TV reported Friday.
They said that local forces do not have enough weapons to fight Taliban militants after the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force hands over security to the government.
This is despite NATO’s claim that it has been rebuilding and strengthening the Afghan army.
Afghans also expressed concern over the issue of illegal arms in the war-ravaged country.
The United States and NATO leaders have set 2014 as the date to hand over security responsibilities to local authorities in Afghanistan.
The security situation remains fragile in Afghanistan despite the presence of nearly 140,000 US-led foreign forces.
–Agencies