DOD to Afghans Security Forces: We provided all the assets and training you need

Pentagon Official Says Afghans Have Training, Capability for Stability 

JULY 8, 2021 | BY DAVID VERGUN

Afghan security forces have modern weapons — including a capable air force — training and sufficient personnel to provide security in Afghanistan, the Pentagon press secretary said.

Additionally, the U.S. continues and will continue to provide the Afghans with additional aircraft and logistical maintenance support, he added.

U.S. to Maintain Robust Over-the-Horizon Capability for Afghanistan if Needed

It is the will of the Afghan government to negotiate an enduring political settlement to establish peace, security and prosperity for the entire nation.

“We want all countries in the region to want the same thing that we want for the Afghans, which is peace and security and stability and an Afghan led negotiated process that leads to a political settlement. That is up to the Afghans and their future [will be] determined by them,” he said.

Since 2001, coalition forces have successfully reduced the threat to the U.S. homeland by al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, which is the reason forces were deployed there, he said.

“That’s a big reason why, in fact, the president has ordered the drawdown,” he said, noting the U.S. will closely monitor Afghanistan to ensure that the terrorism to the homeland doesn’t resurface.

Kirby said that the withdrawal of forces will allow the U.S. to focus on other terrorist and nation threats that have metastasized globally, particularly in Africa.

The U.S. and State Department are exploring over-the-horizon capability from nations neighboring Afghanistan, if needed, to assist Afghan forces, Kirby said.

Although the Defense Department has facilities throughout the Middle East, along with a carrier strike group nearby which could respond robustly if needed, having forces in closer proximity to Afghanistan would give commanders more options, he said, adding that discussions with neighboring nations are now taking place and progress is being made.

Regarding Afghan interpreters who assisted the U.S. military, Kirby said the department is exploring installations on U.S. territories, along with facilities belonging to allies and partners where these interpreters might be located as the State Department processes their immigration paperwork. However, not all of the interpreters desire to leave Afghanistan, he added.

Following the safe and orderly drawdown of forces and equipment from Afghanistan by the end of August, the Defense Department plans to maintain robust over-the-horizon capability if needed, the Pentagon press secretary said.

John F. Kirby held a press briefing today, discussing Afghanistan support and assistance to the Department of Homeland Security at the Southwest border, as well as other topics.

As for the over-the-horizon capability, Kirby said DOD is in active discussions with the State Department regarding the nature of what that capability will be. He mentioned that there’s a carrier strike group in the region and facilities throughout the Middle East that could be useful if needed.

“Our commitment to the future of a stable and secure Afghanistan has not changed. It’s just going to look different. We’re just not going to be on the ground the way we are now,” he said.

Kirby also discussed other bilateral activities with Afghanistan.

There are still contractors in Afghanistan providing support to their security forces and air force, he said. “We are actively working [on ways] in which that contract support can be done remotely or virtually or even physically outside the country.”

There was coordination with Afghan leaders, both in government as well as in the Afghan security forces, about the eventual turnover of Bagram Airfield, the seventh and final base that the U.S. turned over to Afghan National Security Forces, he noted.

Today, U.S. Central Command provided a press release on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

As of July 5, DOD has retrograded the equivalent of approximately 984 C-17 aircraft- loads of material out of Afghanistan and has turned over nearly 17,074 pieces of equipment to the Defense Logistics Agency for disposition, the release stated, noting that 90% of the entire withdrawal process has been completed.