Time is running out for international community in Afghanistan. It has to act fast before 2014 to address the negative factors that will be left behind by troops’ withdrawal on security and economy of Afghanistan. The challenge is hard. It is now making drawdown possible, strengthening Afghan troops, completing political and security transition and at the same time weakening the terrorists to make sure they will not return.

There is a need for maintaining the development so far achieved and making environment further feasible for the newborn Afghan democracy to nurture.  The sacrifices of international community and Afghanistan should not be allowed to go futile and for that purpose, there is a need for optimal level efforts, at international level.

With huge sacrifice in blood and treasure, the future is still gravely uncertain for the people of Afghanistan as suicide bombing, targeted killing and other forms of insurgency continue like never before. Over the last decade, more than 3,000 foreign soldiers have lost their lives in Afghanistan.  Same has been the fate of thousands of Afghan security forces and innocent civilians. Afghan national army and police are seen as the future defenders of Afghanistan. The sacrifices Afghan security forces have offered to their homeland would never be forgotten. Nonetheless, concerns over their capacity remain high among the people. They need more training and modern weaponry and fighting planes.

We have to admit the fact that they have yet to nurture to become competent enough to defend Afghanistan on their own. With the plans for international troops to switch from combat to supporting role by 2013 and withdraw in complete by the end of 2014, concerns over future political and economic security of this country have become manifold. If on the one hand corruption, illiteracy, high dropout rates, and infiltration of Taliban into the ranks of Afghan forces are considered severe hurdles for their development, on the other lack of proper and latest equipments, weapons, tanks and war crafts makes Afghan army and police to be less confident.

For sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan, its government and the international community must work together and seriously to boost the ANSF further. This is very crucial amid the ongoing withdrawal of the NATO troops from Afghanistan. Letting the country to fall into the hands of insurgents once again would have catastrophic outcomes for the region and beyond.