How Far Afghan Security Forces Have Come: An Insider’s View

Recently, I was invited to a dinner in Tampa to honor of U.S. war veterans. As usual, I had the pleasure to meet some new people and my conversation with a kind, elderly woman stuck with me. She kept asking me about my stay and experiences in Tampa and general questions about Afghanistan my homeland. Suddenly she noticed my cell phone on the table and asked me if we have cell phones back home? I gently answered with a smile, yes ma’am after 18 years of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, there have been tremendous achievements.

Our conversation reminded me of how little Americans probably know about all the progress in Afghanistan since 2001. I thought, who better than I to explain it? This short article gives a glimpse of the new Afghanistan that I know; its progress and how far Afghans have come. We Afghans are the first to acknowledge that without the direct support of American citizens this wouldn’t be feasible; so, thank you to my American readers.

I have to say that Afghanistan is a success story that Americans should be proud of. Barely 18 years ago, after the overthrow of the Taliban regime, we started rebuilding our country from nothing. No single institution of the country was functioning properly. Not the treasury, medical or education system, or security system –we had nothing.

Now if you compare today’s Afghanistan to 18 years ago, we have 10 million kids going to schools, and half of them are girls. There was only one functioning university in Kabul, and now 168 universities are teaching thousands of Afghans on daily bases. A country where a single woman could not have a job now has many women ministers and ambassadors, and considerable female representation in the parliament. Internet and networking facilities cover even...

Jason Howk is not the author f this article.

(Editor’s note: This is an account by Afghan Colonel Zia Karimi running in Jason Howk’s column)

So how do the Afghan’s repay America for our generosity?

By alliance?

Quote:

“The international security forces who have been involved closely with Afghans realize that the future of Afghanistan is bright. The ANDSF ( Afghan Special Forces) will not only preserve the 18 years of achievements, but will be the guarantor of the peace process, reconciliation, and integration. We pray that peace reaches every single street and village of our beautiful country. The ANDSF will be playing a role on the international stage during peace building missions, and should remain a close ally and partner of United States on missions to fight terrorists globally.

All these successes would not be possible without the support of USA and its generous people. I assure the people of America that their investments are not wasted. Afghanistan is and will be a strong ally in the region.”

Doesn’t sound like we are leaving Afghanistan any time soon.

Bring our soldiers home, enough already!

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