Polish-Afghan talks on security
Wednesday, 26 September 2012. The Head of the National Security Bureau Stanisław Koziej met with the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Lt. Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi.
The talks focused on the military situation in Afghanistan in the context of the increasing number of green-on-blue attacks, as well as the prospects for development of the security situation in the country.
Lt. Gen. S. M. Karimi presented a wide range of measures taken by the Afghan authorities to prevent future green-on-blue incidents. The General put these attacks in the context of three factors: errors and omissions of the Afghan security forces (in terms of recruitment, selection, discipline, counterintelligence, information and educational activities); errors of ISAF (gaps in knowledge of Afghan culture, life and behavior, disrespectful treatment); and sophisticated Taliban tactics (deliberate use of both of these weaknesses).
The Head of BBN praised the progress that the Afghan National Army made in the process of acquiring the ability to independently respond to the security problems in the greater part of the territory of Afghanistan. In turn, Lt. Gen. S. M. Karimi thanked for the contribution that Polish soldiers make to training and supporting the Afghan National Army.
Issues discussed included also the prospects of security development, as well as post-2014 international engagement in Afghanistan, after the end of current operations carried out by the NATO.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Afghan National Army assured of his optimism for the future situation in the country and the ability of the Afghan National Army to fulfill its role as a guarantor of stability and security in Afghanistan.
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Prior to the meeting at BBN, Lt. Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi held talks with the Minister of National Defence, Tomasz Siemoniak, and the Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Mieczysław Cieniuch.
The Afghan delegation, while in Poland, visited also the National Defence University, the Operations Command, the Special Forces Command, and the Military Police Training Centre. Afghan representatives also attended, as observers, the military exercise "Anakonda 12".