Photo / AP fileAn accelerated United States troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, announced by Washington this week, has rattled both allies and adversaries. Nato has fewer than 12,000 troops helping to train and advise Afghan national security forces. US troops help strengthen much-needed capacity within Afghan security forces." Yet Afghanistan's acting Defence Minister Asadullah Khalid told Parliament that the security forces were holding their own and only 4 per cent of their operations need US air assistance. Afghanistan's security forces also have been degraded by corruption.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 18, 2020 20:48 UTC