KABUL, Afghanistan _ It appears that some Afghan soldiers aren’t waiting to see if President Obama follows through on his intention to begin drawing down U.S. forces next July. In a section of Kapisa province, not far from the capital Kabul, they’re already beginning to desert their units, fearful of possible Taliban retribution once the Americans are gone.

They, like many Afghans, fear that the United States may withdraw before the Taliban are completely defeated and a competent Afghan security force has been put in place.

And they know that the Taliban have long memories.

In the Tagab district of Kapisa province, a former soldier who asked that his name not be used out of concern for his security, spoke of his decision to leave the military.

“I served for two years in Helmand province in very tough conditions,” he said. “I always thought that this country would be rebuilt and peace would come … but when the president of America announced his decision to pull out troops, it had a huge negative effect on the morale of a lot of the soldiers,” he said.

“It became evident to us that our dreams will not be realized, and that when the Taliban take power, we will have to face trials (for treason). Four of us quit our duties,” he said.

A strong and stable Afghan security force is central to the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. Washington has invested heavily in recruiting, training and equipping both the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police.

The army currently has 134,000 active-duty troops, a number scheduled to double within the next two years. The number of national police currently stands at 90,000 officers, with as many as 100,000 expected to be recruited.

Both services have struggled with issues of discipline, illiteracy and desertion. No one knows when Afghan security forces will be capable of standing on their own.

It’s not just raw recruits who are walking away from the armed forces.

A former colonel in the defense ministry, who spoke on condition that his name not be used, said he had resigned because he lacked confidence in his country’s military.

“The Americans are saying they will leave and I am sure once they are gone, the Taliban will come back to power,” he said. “This compelled me to leave my post because I have a lot of land and orchards in Tagab district and I cannot give them up because of a job with an uncertain future.”

The same appears to be true of the national police force.

A young man who gave his name as Jameel explained why he had quit the national police force after serving for four years.

“I preferred serving my country rather than going to another country and working there as a laborer,” he said. “But since the announcement by the American president to take his troops out of Afghanistan, I quit my job, because if the Taliban return to power our lives will be in danger. We have no trust in foreigners _ the moment they don’t have any interest here they will not stay for another minute.”

Officially, the government insists recruitment goals are on target.

Col. Mohammad Akbar Stankzai, head of the recruitment section of the army, said talk of U.S. withdrawal has had no impact on recruitment or retainment.

“The plan given to us by the ministry of defense is being smoothly implemented; the numbers of new recruits are exceeding the target given to us by the ministry as more people are coming to the recruitment centers,” he said.

“It is true that some people with low morale are abandoning their duties, and these are the people who are affected by the campaigns of the enemy,” he acknowledged. “But overall, the morale of the army is very strong. If the Americans and the foreigners leave, the army and police of Afghanistan have the capability to defend the country.” Western military officials do what they can to tap down fear of a precipitous withdrawal.

“We are discussing the possibility of postponing this withdrawal to 2014 so that the Afghan security forces would be able to maintain security themselves,” said Lt. Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for the NATO-led International Assistance Force to Afghanistan.

But local Taliban leaders are working to stoke fears.

“There is no doubt about the fact that the Americans are defeated and are now seeking ways to get out of this country,” said a Taliban leader in Tagab district, who spoke on condition that his name not be used. “For us, the Americans and those who have been helping them are the same, and each one will be punished in accordance with the crimes they have committed.”

Maiwand Safay is a reporter in Afghanistan who writes for The Institute for War & Peace Reporting. Readers may write to the author at the Institute for War & Peace Reporting, 48 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8LT, U.K.; Web site: www.iwpr.net. For information about IWPR’s funding, please go to http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?top_supporters.html.

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