A Few Days in Afghanistan

Last week, I had a good visit to Afghanistan -- three days, including a swing through Helmand in the south.

The security situation in Helmand Province was significantly different this month than it was when I last visited in January 2010. I was especially struck by the continued improvement in the performance and size of the Afghan security forces down south. In 2010, there were roughly 10,000 ISAF servicemen and 2,000 ANSF in Helmand Province, roughly a 5:1 ratio. Today, there are 30,000 ISAF and 30,000 ANSF – a 1:1 ratio with Afghan forces increasingly in the lead. Afghan flags fly across the province, schools are open, bazaars are thriving. There is a sense of progress.

This is especially significant because Helmand and Kandahar have historically been the heart of the insurgency and the Taliban's stronghold. They've been pushed out of some of the most important terrain to them. Of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan, Helmand accounts for 45% percent of the violence -- if we can succeed here, we're on track for overall success.

In the months ahead, we'll continue to see fighting and losses, especially in the south. There are big challenges ahead -- governance, corruption, and difficulties with cross-border operations from Pakistan -- but overall, I am cautiously optimistic.

I spent my third and final day with the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan at the Kabul Military Training Facility (KMTC). As we drove from one side of KMTC to the other, I witnessed Afghans training on everything from simple battle drills like React to Contact, to complex Route Clearance Drills, drivers training, and marksmanship. Some of these training events were being run by ISAF forces; however, more and more, Afghans are taking over the training of their own security forces. This is a significant milestone toward a truly self-sustaining and self-generating Security Force.

I want to give you a sense of one event that said a great deal to me:

Before boarding our plane for the return trip to Belgium, I attended the Commissioning Ceremony and the swearing of the military oath by two dozen young women joining the Afghan National Army. It was an emotional moment.

Think how that picture looks to the Taliban. It is part of a country where today 7 million children go to school, with 3 million of them young girls. Under the Taliban, no females were allowed to attend school. The young women officers are part of the new generation of women emerging in Afghanistan. I chatted with each of them, and all were articulate and impressive. They are the new face of Afghanistan, and I believe they will help lead their country to a brighter future.

Amidst all the challenges, there is reason for hope. These young women are part of that.

Adm. James Stavridis
Commander, U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe