U.S. cutting funds for Afghan forces' training
Reuters, September 14, 2011
(Reuters) - A Senate panel on Tuesday approved a $1.6 billion cut in projected
U.S. funding for Afghan security forces, part of a significant reduction in
outlays for training and equipping Afghan army and police expected in the coming
years.
The United States started withdrawing its forces from Afghanistan in July with
the goal of handing over lead security control to an expanded Afghan army and
police force by the end of 2014. It has spent billions bulking up Afghan
security forces to prepare for that day.
But the Pentagon is in the process of deciding how quickly those costs might
come down in the next several years from the $12.8 billion it had initially
projected in spending for fiscal year 2012.
Senator Daniel Inouye, the chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations
Subcommittee, said $1.6 billion was being cut because of an "overstated
requirement" identified by the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
U.S. officials acknowledged to Reuters that total spending on training and
equipping Afghan forces could fall much further. A figure of $6 billion in
funding, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, was probably within the realm
of consideration, one official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
For complete article, click here
Related:
Indian firms eye huge mining investment in Afghanistan - Reuters India
Pakistan to deploy troops along Afghan border - Express Tribune
US: Religious persecution up in Afghanistan - Associated Press
No comments:
Post a Comment