NATO officials in Brussels are considering a proposal to maintain the current number of Afghan National Security Forces through 2018. In the two-day NATO defense ministers’ conference in Brussels, officials are of the opinion that the proposal is being seriously considered. According to American media reports, the new assistance package includes extension of the current strength of ANSF for the next five years to ensure commitment of the US and its NATO allies in keeping the achievements of last 12 years in Afghanistan. The earlier plan of downsizing ANSF had not only drawn criticism and concerns among Afghan leaders, becoming a serious tipping point that NATO is leaving Afghanistan on its own and mercy of neighbors and without ending the mission with a clear victory.

Last year NATO countries had reduced their defense budget planning to cut number of ANSF from 352,000 to 240,000 starting from December 2014, when the NATO mission ends.

The NATO proposal, though not yet officially confirmed, will be a welcoming move, if decided. We have expressed deep concerns on the plans of heavily reducing the size of ANSF. Due to the global financial crisis and lack of interest in NATO capitals for bearing the financial burden of keeping ANSF, the plan to reduce a third of ANSF starting gradually from 2015 to 2017 had been pursued without a push from the Obama Administration to ask its NATO allies to share the financial burden. 

The downsizing plan is a conceptual model based on certain assumptions such as improved security and a possible deal with Taliban militants for a political settlement, which are uncertain. Meanwhile, there are no alternative options. Laying off over 120,000 well-trained combat veterans in 2015 in a dim job market could cause more of security risk, than the current calculations. 

Officials from Afghan Defense and Interior ministries say the decrease of ANSF strength should be based on ground realities and conditions of improved security. 

After the withdrawal of bulk of US and other NATO troops by 2014, the cost of war in Afghanistan will be reduced heavily, and the heavy cut in defense comes at a risk of losing all the achievements in Afghanistan with our descent into chaos.

NATO countries should sustain their continued support and contribution in Afghanistan to ensure commitment for long-term stability.