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The following videos discuss the activities and progress of Afghan security forces both on the streets of Kabul and in the dense undergrowth of Kandahar. Whilst both reports emphasize these positive developments as beginnings, they provide a sharp contrast to the crippled condition of Afghanistan's national security forces four years ago, as well as a sense of gathering confidence among the Afghan population.

The first video discusses feelings in the Afghan government as well as on the streets about the state of security in the city. Reporter David Heathfield depicts a resurrected army and police force which has made significant headway in meeting the security needs of the capital.

• Images of Afghan police in charge of their streets contrast to years of ISAF-provided security.
• Dr. Hakim Asher of the Ministry of Interior expresses overwhelming optimism about the security situation. He states that suicide attacks, illegal vehicles and drugs are being deterred by a conspicuous police presence on the streets.
• Dr. Asher maintains that a ‘close relation' with ISAF forces is being maintained.
• Interviews with people on the street give a general sense of better security. However, kidnapping, which has become a serious problem over the past year, is endangering public confidence.
• The reporter claims ‘a significant milestone' in Afghan security has taken place, which has in turn sent a strong signal to the people.

Positive developments are also visible beyond Kabul. The second video follows a combined ISAF-Afghan National Army (ANA) operation to retake the Arghandab district in Kandahar province. Reporter Daniel Morgan witnesses a swift, competent response to Taliban insurgency by Afghan soldiers.

• The operation is planned and led by the Afghan army with support provided by Canadian ISAF troops.
• A rapid response: Afghan soldiers are preparing for the operation only 24 hours after being dispatched 30km south of the region.
• Local people leave ahead of combat and return promptly.
• Soldiers are demonstrably calm, accustomed to battle.
• Fighting is over within two days in spite of difficult conditions.
• This report considers the operation to be a discernable example of the beginnings of long-term stability in the region.

For more videos, visit Natochannel.tv.
More information on the ISAF operation in Afghanistan is available on the ISAF website.

December 8, 2008

Yasser Abumuailek, Deutsche Welle, Silver Contributor (39)

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I like this comment! What's this?

Both videos were very enlightening with respect to the security condition in Afghanistan, especially in the Kabul Province. However I believe that NATO should be more involved than other stakeholders in Afghanistan in strenghtening the economy of the country. All we have to do is listen to the people: in the first video the second local said an important sentence: "if they want a tight security they have to work on the economy and the economic welfare of the people". Indeed this relationship between a good a economy and stability is from my point of view one of the main deterrents of terrorism and fundamentalism. I have noted the same relationship in the Gaza Strip prior to and after the second Intifada of 2000.

The Taliban are now mostly operating out of northern Afghanistan, where they still receive the support of the locals and maintain secure supply lines. The rising feeling of security among the locals in Kabul is certainly a positive change credited to ISAF, but outside of Kabul Province the situation remains highly inflammable. I believe that one of the main stabilising factors in the other Afghan provinces would definitely be a stable economy or at least a steady source of income for the locals living there. This factor has priority to the military factor, which should go alongside it.

Only by strenghtening Afghanistan's economy would we be able to stem the flow of manpower and support to the Taliban. This approach has proven itself in several conflicts, and I think Afghanistan would not be an exception.

Thank you for posting both videos and accompanying comment.

December 9, 2008

Markus Drake, atlantic-community.org, Gold Contributor (80)

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I like this comment! What's this?

While I agree with that economic stability and even prosperity are excellent deterrents to radicalization, I would also like to ask what, exactly, should bring this wealth?

Some other videos on the site show reconstruction teams that go around, evaluating local conditions, and then, when they have decided a road needs to be re-built or a bridge improved, they hire the local population to actually do the job. This seems like a good concept, but only goes so far. What, in the end, is to replace poppy cultivation as a mass source of stable and reliable income in Afghanistan? Can Afghan society become industrialized, under the conditions it currently operates under? There are not the markets to receive products produced in a distributed way, under village conditions, other than if those products are illegal or otherwise highly priced, i.e. opium and AK47s. So urbanization is the other alternative. Is ISAF and OEF ready to empty the countryside in Afghanistan? What would be the pull-factor in Kabul, to pull in the young ambitious men to work in factories?

Good luck finding loans for constructing a mobile phone assembly plant there under these financial conditions!

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