Making of the New Afghan National Army: Challenges and Prospects

The paper attempts to examine diverse challenges to the making of the new Afghan National Army (ANA), and its future prospects. The issue assumes significance as the Taliban shift battle lines outside the Pashtun areas and there is growing difference among Western countries regarding the means and approaches to be used to stabilize Afghanistan. The paper is broadly divided into four sections. The first section seeks to identify and critically examine the role played by key institutional structures responsible for the training and mentoring of the new national army. The second section deals with the challenges confronting Afghanistan which have a bearing on the development of the ANA as an effective force. The third section explores the dilemmas confronting the West, and the final section offers key assessments on the ANA's future prospects.