The Ministry of Defense (MoD) Wednesday said that it has outlined a four-year war strategy and with the implementation of this approach, the Afghan National Army (ANA) will only improve.  

Changing the commando units into a corps and bringing the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) and border forces under the umbrella of the ministry of defense were key plans under the new strategy.

According to the MoD, currently the Afghan National Army (ANA) has no control of the country’s air space, but a radar system for the Afghan Air Force would help control air space.

“Currently we do not have the technology and radar systems to monitor our air space. We need to have a radar system, anti-aircraft guns, anti-aircraft rockets, surveillance aircraft, bombers, strategic and operative aircrafts,” said MoD spokesman Dawlat Waziri.

He said that U.S officials have also announced their backing of the four-year strategy.

“Combat operations need to be tackled by commando units and ground forces must protect the areas or conduct operations around their areas when needed,” said Waziri.

This comes amid the Afghan National Security Forces’ (ANSF) ongoing anti-insurgency campaign in at least 17 provinces. At the same time, the commando units are also conducting fifteen operations in several areas.

Afghan Special Forces are also taking part in night raids.

But, it is believed that security threats continue to surge in the country despite commitments by government officials and security institutions to eliminate insurgency.

Kunduz was overrun by the Taliban on two occasions in the past two years. But people in the province are still concerned that the Taliban will once again try to occupy the key town.  

“How can they (security forces) not retake those areas under the control of opponents, despite them having all the equipment and facilities,” asked Amruddin Wali, head of Kunduz provincial council.

“We demand that the central government launch air and ground operations in Kunduz so that Kunduz does not fall to the Taliban for the third time,” said Emal, a resident of Kunduz.

But, Kunduz police chief has said that military operations in Kunduz are proving difficult.

“Sometimes the situation is in a manner that we must act very quickly, but sometimes we need to move carefully, despite this operations have not stopped,” said Abdul Hamid Hamidi, Kunduz police chief.