How Afghan forces are tackling the Taliban's murderous PR campaign

[Sher Malang]

In some ways it is working. Last week they disguised their 4x4s to look like Nato vehicles and penetrated one of the most secure areas of Kabul, launching an attack close to the presidential palace. They managed to close the airport in another attack and are generating inch upon inch of coverage for their high-profile assaults.

The cost to Afghan forces has grown too. Yesterday, the Interior Ministry announced that 299 police were killed in the past month, and another 618 were wounded – putting the death toll on a par with the worst in 12 years of fighting, according to figures kept by the Associated Press.

All of which contributes to an image of international forces dashing for home leaving behind an incapable local militia unable even to maintain a ring of steel around the presidential palace.

But is that the real picture? Analysts in Kabul suggest the opposite. Afghan forces have managed to prevent attackers from reaching their target in many cases.

In this morning’s attack all four attackers were dead within 40 minutes, according to local police. Seven people died, but the toll could have been much, much worse had they managed to make their way inside the compound

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Source: How Afghan forces are tackling the Taliban's murderous PR campaign – Telegraph Blogs

 

[Manindra]

Afghanistan futures lies on their hand & I am sure they didn't fail & crush those uncivilized barbarians like we did.

 

[Rig Vedic]

Afghanistan should immediately put into place long-term arrangements with Iran and Russia.

As the US draws down the Afghan forces will need to be effective on a limited budget.

It would be good to use low cost high impact tactics - monitoring through UAVs, precision guided munitions, (almost) real-time satellite imagery, intelligence driven police operations etc.

Non-lethal assistance such as UAVs & good quality satellite imagery can be provided by India. Battlefield surveillance radars is another area where India can help.