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Functional Afghan airforce five years away: US general
Brussels (AFP) May 22, 2008 Afghanistan's army will need international air support in combat operations for another five years, the US general leading efforts to build and train the Afghan security forces said Thursday. US Major General Robert Cone, speaking to reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels, said the support would have to continue until the fledgling Afghan airforce is fully operational, probably in 2013. "We believe that the Afghan air corps, on its current glide path, will have a capability in 2013," he said, adding that the army "will be dependent on additional firepower from allies until that time." Cone said the air force would take a long time to build because of the special maintenance, logistics and fuelling skills and equipment required. "I will tell you that development of an air corps is particularly difficult and will require some significant lead time," he said. He underlined: "The hardest part is the dropping of bombs from the air. It will require significant training and we're thinking 2013 is when the Afghans will be capable of doing that." Afghan and international forces are fighting a tenacious Taliban-led insurgency and the ability to call in jets and attack helicopters to back combat troops has proved a life-saving tool. In March, Afghan Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak called on NATO to help build the airforce, so that the military can take more responsibility in combat -- the key to allowing international forces to finally leave Afghanistan. "We need some ground attack capabilities. The issue is still under consideration and we will welcome any help in restructuring and recreating our air force," he said. Cone also said that the Afghan army now numbered around 57,000 troops, with 9,000 others in training, and that it remained on target to meet a requirement for 80,000 personnel early next year. NATO leads a 47,000 strong force drawn from 40 countries which is trying to spread the influence of the weak central government throughout the country. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
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