The withdrawal plan of NATO troops from Afghanistan and vague picture of post-2014 Afghanistan has triggered concerns to grow high among the Afghan people. Even high government officials seem worried. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, who is leading the commission for transition of Afghanistan's security tasks from NATO troops to ANSF, thinks the there are concerns ahead.
In a recent interview to local TV channel, he further said, "Government officials are also afraid of uncertain situation in the country after 2014." What will happen after international troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan? This is the question on everyone's mind be it a layman, businessman, politician or a women who is thankful for not being ruled by Taliban any more.
Despite the fact that clouds of uncertainty is getting denser as each day passes, a roadmap to the future is being chalked out. It would be an unrealistic approach to expect that the US and its allies will simply leave Afghanistan at the mercy of insurgents. In the near future, the US is to announce the level of troops that will remain in Afghanistan after 2014.
It is in consultation with its military commanders, NATO countries and other important partners. According to The New York Times' report General John Allen, senior US commander in Afghanistan, has offered Defense Secretary Leon Panetta three plans, each with different troop levels - 6,000, 10,000 and 20,000 - and risk-factor probabilities.
President Hamid Karzai will be leaving for the US in the next few days. One of the main purposes of his visit will be discussing the post-2014 role and presence of the US troops in Afghanistan. It will be an important visit and the first visit of Presidnet Karzai since Obama was elected for his second term.
The visit is taking place at a crucial juncture, when both Afghan and Pakistani governments have been releasing Taliban militants from their prisons to push a political settlement with insurgent groups. Nonetheless, the decision about the long-term presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan for training and supporting the ANSF is what many are waiting for.
Many developments in Afghanistan have become possible by generous assistance from the international community. This development might reverse, all-at-once, if the process of supporting the security and economic sectors of Afghanistan stops with the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan. ANSF still need more training, equipments and weapons and time to be able to defend Afghanistan on their own.