Training of Afghan military to cost 11.5b dollars: US envoy
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Jan 22, IRNA -- The cost of training and equipment of Afghan security forces is to reach 11.5 billion US dollars this coming year, the US Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder announced in Berlin on Friday.
Addressing an international meeting on Afghanistan in the German capital, the American envoy stressed that boosting the Afghan military training mission was key to establishing security in the war-stricken country.
He added that security was "essential to governance and development" in Afghanistan.
Dalder pointed out that there was still a "4,000 plus shortfall of instructors and trainers" for the Afghan army and police force.
"Only 20-25 percent of Afghan police has actually received training," the US diplomat said.
He urged "maximum efforts" in Afghanistan this year to ensure that the planned US withdrawal from Afghanistan could begin in 2011.
There are currently 100,000 Afghan soldiers and 90,000 police, according to figures released by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
OT**1420
End News / IRNA / News Code 912545
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