Afghans plan to double security forces to 400,000

[StarfarerBill]

By CBC News

Afghanistan and its allies have agreed to a proposal to more than double the number of Afghan security forces to 400,000, from the current 191,000, within five years.

The announcement came Wednesday after the meeting of the Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board, a panel that includes representatives of Afghanistan's government, officials from the UN and major troop contributing countries — including Canada.

The board's approval means the plan will be presented at a Jan. 28 international conference in London, which aims to bolster support for the Afghan leadership as the U.S. and NATO allies prepare to send an additional 37,000 reinforcements to fight the Taliban.

Afghanistan Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal said the plan calls for 240,000 Afghan soldiers and 160,000 national police to be ready in three to five years.

Afghanistan has about 97,000 soldiers and 94,000 Afghan police officers.

More:
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/01/20/afghan-troops.html