The Afghan security apparatus, for all its problems and shortcomings, can be considered as one of the major achievements of the last two decades. Afghan people have built the army by sacrificing tens of thousands of their loved sons to defend the country. Tens of brave Afghan soldiers make ultimate sacrifice on a daily basis to protect their people and country. The preservation of Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) must remain a redline for Afghan government and people in any deal about the political future of the country.
Abbas Stanikzai, the Qatar-based Taliban’s political chief, has recently said in an interview that the Afghan security apparatus — Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan National Police (ANP) and National Directorate of Security (NDS) — will be dissolved after they reach a peace deal with Americans. Since they have been formed by Americans, he insisted that their disbandment is inevitable when the United States leaves Afghanistan. The statements have provoked strong reactions from Afghan people because they have a taste of the bitter experience following the victory of Mujahedeen. The main reason for the failure of Mujahedeen regime and subsequent takeover of power by the Taliban was the disintegration of Afghan armed forces. Have the Mujahedeen not disbanded Afghan army at the behest of foreigners, and instead supported and regarded it as the country’s asset, the Taliban would have not been able to oust them despite having Pakistan’s support.
The Taliban may be demanding the dissolution of Afghan military on foreign orders or any other reservations, but the preservation of all government structures, especially the national security agencies, should be a redline for all Afghans aside from the Taliban in peace talks. Afghan government and people and the international community which has spent billions of dollars to fund the Afghan military should stand against the Taliban demand altogether. No patriotic Afghan should ever let such a bitter experience repeat again. There is no doubt Afghan people want peace, but it should not cost higher than the continuation of war. The dissolution of the country’s political regime and security apparatus is more dangerous for Afghans than a protracted war. It is not possible for Afghanistan to disband an army of hundreds of thousands of personnel for the sake of a few thousand rebels every decade or two and then build it again. The establishment of a new military in its present form is impossible with the resources Afghanistan has.
