Afghanistan: June 18, 2003

Archives

The Afghan government believes the Western trained army, expected to reach a strength of 9,000 by next year, is too small. A force at least three times as large is thought to be needed to have a chance against the various warlord armies. The government also wants more reconstruction money, and wants it now so that it can win support throughout the country by doing useful things. This increased activity would cost several billion dollars a year. Without it, unrest will continue, and possibly grow as drug lords and war lords act with increasing independence. 

In the west, a warlord feud between Tajiks and Pustuns led to more violence that left at least one person dead and several wounded.