Ankara, February 06: Turkey’s president says Afghanistan belongs to the Afghan people and that the country’s problems cannot be solved solely through military strategies.
Abdullah Gul told the 28 defense ministers of NATO member states, who have gathered for a two-day meeting in Istanbul, that foreign forces should not leave behind a devastated land out of Afghanistan.
“International Security Assistance Forces and NATO did not go there to change the identity, culture, values and traditions of the Afghan people. If this reality is fully comprehended, it will be a lot easier to isolate the threat of terror and win the victory,” he said.
He also pointed out that nearly 15 million Afghan children need education, health services and employment opportunities.
Gul also reiterated the need for training and equipping Afghan forces in their fight against terrorism and organized crime.
Meanwhile, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen admitted that the alliance estimates the number of Taliban militants in Afghanistan has grown from fewer than 400 in 2004 to about 25,000 last year and nearly 30,000 now.
This has led other officials and analysts to say that the Taliban are now waging a war of attrition against the international forces.
The number of international forces in Afghanistan is expected to reach 140,000 with the US sending 30,000 troops and other allies 10,000 more. However, officials predict the violence will continue to increase, before stability can be restored.
——-Agencies