i'm going to visit a training center for the afghan national army" >> while the afghan national army is around 200,000 strong, it's reported to be plagued with desertions, and with low morale. >> "these are kabul's last line of defense; all that stands between the city and the taliban. the question is: will this army be strong enough when the international troops leave? >> the task of the ana is to provide an environment of security that can allow the communities and economies education all to function. so creating that environment is tough. >> their commander insists they're ready for anything: >> at the end of the day, the afghan army does have greater fire power. they do have greater resources. even if troops aren't on the ground they are still being supported by american patronage and all of those factors i think will mean that the afghan army is going to be able to control major population centers like kabul, like provincial capitals. >> after three days, we received the call we had been waiting for. >> at the moment we are crossing the last checkpoint, leaving kabul and driving

i'm going to visit a training center for the afghan national army" >> while the afghan national army is around 200,000 strong, it's reported to be plagued with desertions, and with low morale. >> "these are kabul's last line of defense; all that stands between the city and the taliban. the question is: will this army be strong enough when the international troops leave? >> the task of the ana is to provide an environment of security that can allow the communities and economies education all to function. so creating that environment is tough. >> their commander insists they're ready for anything: >> at the end of the day, the afghan army does have greater fire power. they do have greater resources. even if troops aren't on the ground they are still being supported by american patronage and all of those factors i think will mean that the afghan army is going to be able to control major population centers like kabul, like provincial capitals. >> after three days, we received the call we had been waiting for. >> at the moment we are crossing the last checkpoint, leaving kabul and driving

i'm going to visit a training center for the afghan national army" >> while the afghan national army is around 200,000 strong, it's reported to be plagued with desertions, and with low morale. >> "these are kabul's last line of defense; all that stands between the city and the taliban. the question is: will this army be strong enough when the international troops leave? >> the task of the ana is to provide an environment of security that can allow the communities and economies education all to function. so creating that environment is tough. >> their commander insists they're ready for anything: >> at the end of the day, the afghan army does have greater fire power. they do have greater resources. even if troops aren't on the ground they are still being supported by american patronage and all of those factors i think will mean that the afghan army is going to be able to control major population centers like kabul, like provincial capitals. >> after three days, we received the call we had been waiting for. >> at the moment we are crossing the last checkpoint, leaving kabul and driving

need protection, they need assistance. >> the taliban was planning another attack against the afghan national army>> while he was waiting for the fighters to gather, i asked the taliban commander - leesan - about how he felt about killing fellow afghans. >> i asked him if the taliban today was changing its approach. >> i was driven to the outskirts of town to film a large gathering of over a hundred taliban fighters. this was undoubtedly a show of strength for the camera. and a reminder why so many are concerned about what will happen when the nato troops withdraw later this year. >> as you can see, some of the commanders are planning their attack today. they're planning to attack an afghan national army base. >> the key us war aim was to prevent al qaeda from being able to operate out of afghanistan. before they went on their raid, i asked them whether they would renounce ties with al qaeda - something that the taliban's leadership has so far refused to do. >> being present at a gathering of armed taliban in these numbers was terrifying - this was a potentially a prime target for a us drone strik

consider this on al jazeera america >> the taliban was planning another attack against the afghan national army>> while he was waiting for the fighters to gather, i asked the taliban commander - leesan - about how he felt about killing fellow afghans. >> i asked him if the taliban today was changing its approach. >> i was driven to the outskirts of town to film a large gathering of over a hundred taliban fighters. this was undoubtedly a show of strength for the camera. and a reminder why so many are concerned about what will happen when the nato troops withdraw later this year. >> as you can see, some of the commanders are planning their attack today. they're planning to attack an afghan national army base. >> the key us war aim was to prevent al qaeda from being able to operate out of afghanistan. before they went on their raid, i asked them whether they would renounce ties with al qaeda - something that the taliban's leadership has so far refused to do. >> being present at a gathering of armed taliban in these numbers was terrifying - this was a potentially a prime target for a us drone strik

taliban country, in which the group struggled against the better armed and better organized rch afghan national army army about. >> they don't fear any attacks from them and they move all around the city without fearing them. >> his report concluded with this: >> when u.s. withdraws mos mostf its troops are from afghanistan, the taivel wil taliban will sti. the question is what will happen after the draw down? the answer is i've already seen it. it's basically already happened. a fight for power, on the battle field with bullets and in the towns for local support. and as always, civilians will be caught up in the middle. >> that, this is taliban country, a product of al jazeera's fault lines. najib, can you tell us where this takes us, where this finds us, we know going into the election that there was a lot of disruption caused by the taliban but going forward what are we expecting the taliban's role to be? >> it depends on which part of the taliban we're talking about. whether we are talking about the part of taliban that wants the negotiations to proceed, and -- or the one that is uncompromising

afghan army. i really did not exist. to the extent that it does today. the afghan national army is essentially one of the first efforts in afghanistan to build up a national security institutions thus barriers also make an email for the equipment to the afghans difficult because it was designed for english speakers but the only wage more than half of the afghan security forces are functionally illiterate he can read street signs. they can read maps this is a big problem. a huge problem for any military institution any security institution particularly international national army whatever is left to the army also risks being stolen by the columbine. i think is the very strong fear eighteen in washington that would probably not even publicly in a lot of these large heavy weapons tanks helicopter gunships things like that. they can very easily end up in the wrong hands in a country like afghanistan. the pentagon tries to find a new home for some of the happiest equipment is also looking to afghanistan's neighbors like pakistan india and uzbekistan as possible by yours pakistan

nato's mission here centers on training the afghan national army. >> the complexity, when we first got here i started thinking about it. it almost becomes overwhelming. >> this is the us regional garrison commander, responsible for daily operations in the north. >> there's a lot of great contractors that come up here. local nationals, third country nationals, us expats. they're really good, they work together. >> what are the contractors doing? >> everything, everything you can think of. they work in the dining facilities. they help maintain the living facilities. what it does is that it allows the soldiers to concentrate on their primary mission, rather than having extra duties. we could not do our mission without them. they do a good job for us. >> two american companies manage the military's facilities in afghanistan: the fluor corporation, and dyncorp international. these companies are called 'prime contractors,' because the us government hired them directly. >> they all work together and do an outstanding job of serving us really, really good food. >> fluor manages camp marmal, bu

do you think the afghan national army can stand on its own and deal with things like these elections?> well, they certainly had an enormous test yesterday and they passed with flying colors. yes, all 350,000 of the afghan national security forces were out to, you know, protect the people at the polling stations, but earlier this week, fareed, we sat down with commander general joseph dunphy. he's in charge of the military operation in afghanistan. he said that the afghans are now running the show. yes, the u.s. is withdrawing at the end of the year, but those three top presidential candidates, all of them have agreed to sign or at least they have said they will sign the security agreement, and that, of course, fareed, as we know will ensure that they have presence post-2014, and that is critical. general dunphy believes that it will happen, there will be an enduring force or perhaps after 10,000 american and coalition troops -- >> we've got to go, anna. >> -- to ensure that this doesn't become a safe haven for al qaeda in the future. >> we've got to go, anna. fantastic reporting. than

intervened the afghan army really did not exist to the extent that it does today the afghan national army is essentially one of the first efforts in afghanistan to build up a national security institution language barriers also make handing over the equipment to the afghans difficult because it was designed for english speakers but beyond language more than half of the afghan security forces are functionally illiterate they can't read street signs they can read maps and this is a big problem a huge problem for any military institution any security institution particularly a national national army whatever is left to the army also risks being stolen by the taliban so i think there's a very. wrong fear in washington that would probably not be admitted publicly that a lot of these large heavy weapons tanks helicopter gunships things like that they could very easily end up in the wrong hands in a country like afghanistan as the pentagon tries to find a new home for some of its heaviest equipment it's also looking to afghanistan's neighbors like pakistan india and uzbekistan as possible bu

fishing that security situations and parents weekend to vote for the stations are secured by the afghan national army and we are proud to be absent in protest. this very small room is the end of a very long journey for these afghan voters the next step get their finger in just a cold then make their way over to pick up a ballot. come back here cast that vote in secrecy and the very last that deposited in the sealed ballot box. the loss of women are here to vote because they want to live in peace with our family and their children they want their children to be educated here and to work for their country. all the big names in afghanistan's major show boating. the outgoing president. as well as the frontrunners. ashcroft gandhi. abdullah abdullah in stalemate was full. but the real winners here could be the afghan people that have been kept to the people of afghanistan want afghanistan to stand up or on his african countries. they should choose the president furthermore the election must come to a boy. with tight security couple escape the taliban threat on fate but this is just the first of all votes

they also provided military a host of a f military weapons to offer the afghan national army chance to defend themselves and if that there's a sense of what if the election does not go well because really what the plunge this nation into further chaos. ocean when you mention this attack from yesterday. what more can you tell us about that. i'm sorry you are just one second you can try them once again please uncle john's you mention the it there was an attack bail yesterday in kabul. what's more details can you give me about that kabul attack from yesterday get. yes that's really the terrifying part about all this there are a number of police security checkpoints virtually everywhere you go there's discussion about closing the airport during the next few days. i'm just going down in the busy street especially in front of government ministry offices it is really difficult to get one hundred meters without running into a police checkpoint seeking go hundred meters have someone pull over to check it right. check the passengers inside ask for id. this is a process going on and on and on and

wraps the ship scrap or sell them well pentagon officials are largely clouds again in the afghan national army's capabilities. we have seen increasingly used afghan forces are capable of assuming the lead. there are major concerns about leaving the equipment behind like they did in iraq. bachmann said that the us left six hundred million dollars worth of military equipment to iraq which included vehicles or to transport soldiers and tanks and some on the vehicles like zombies. iraq as per reports walk from the us military equipment worth ten billion dollars. that's because of rock and a well established army before the u s attorney afghanistan's army on the other hand was mostly comprised of local tribes before the us to stand and still struggles to perform missions on its own language barriers also make an email for the equipment to the afghans difficult because it was designed for english speakers. but the only wage more than half of the afghan security forces are functionally illiterate they can read street signs. they can read maps and is a big problem. a huge problem for any military instit

the afghan national army and afghan national police need the support of international community. it cost about $45 billion to sustain that. without the commitment from the international community, that will be a major challenge. whoever is the elected leader will take into consideration the hope and future of afghan people that will lead to signing a partnership for the afghan people and the united states that it will not be used as a plat formality for terrorists to congregate and attack the west. >> why is it then since you work for the afghan government, why has hamid karzai been reluctant to sign the deal? >> president hamid karzai wants - he has his open views on his own legacy. i think the detail of why he hasn't signed is a mystery. there has been numerous articles, but he has not said it will be an impediment. the political process will sort the thing out. all the three major candidates have shown an indication that they will sign the agreement for the united states, but president karz's decision is personal, and one has to respect that. he respects the constitution that

clearly she was in a convoy flanked by afghan national army and the person who opened fire and unloadedany many bullets into the car she was in, was in a police uniform. so this was very clearly a targeted killing. so yeah, i think this is clearly a message to journalists not to cover it, to those who are monstering the election, not to monitor it. >> there are three female candidates who are vying for the post of vice president. what do you say to that? does that mean that things have changed or have not really changed? >> i think things have changed in afghanistan. i think back to the time when i arrived on the ground on september 19th, 2001, just immediately following the attacks of 9-11. it was just unbelievable to -- to see the way in which people lived in fear under the taliban. it was -- it was really a -- a very primitive place that had been battered by decades of war. there was no infrastructure. there were no girls in school. women lived, you know, in a very fearful way, i think is the only way to put it. and if you go now -- and we have a correspondent who is doing a wonderfu

ship scrap or sell them but while pentagon officials are largely confident in the afghan national army capability. what we have seen increasingly is afghan forces that are capable of assuming the lead there are major concerns about leaving the equipment behind like they did in iraq. or the u.s. left six hundred million dollars where the military equipment to iraq which included vehicles arm to transport soldiers and tanks and some armored vehicles like humvees but iraq as per reports from the u.s. military equipment worth ten billion dollars that's because iraq had a well established army before the u.s. intervened afghanistan's army on the other hand was loosely comprised of local tribes before the u.s. stepped in and still struggles to perform missions on its own language barriers also make handing over the equipment to the afghans difficult because it was designed for english speakers but beyond language more than half of the afghan security forces are functionally illiterate they can't read street signs they can read maps and this is a big problem a huge problem for any military in

widespread lack of security throughout the country there is no real assurance that the the afghan national army that the u.s. has invested so many billions of dollars in in the national police are able to secure the situation inside the country. and you can keep up with the latest from afghanistan by following lisa here on her twitter feed she is providing regular reports and photos for we all in the run up to the country's presidential election this weekend. the people of afghanistan head to the polls for the first time since the fall of the taliban but a little bit of both pave the way for the first ever democratic transfer of power of. the national let me. now still to come on the program become terrorists spec's the muslim brotherhood which enjoyed support from britain just two years ago is now under investigation there in a case this summer calling. a report from siberia and a thriving for the industry this loved and condemned inequal measure that. in a couple of minutes. economic. optimists now like. what if the public signs. technology innovation all the list of elements around russia we

through the ministry of public which or field hospitals were purchased specifically for the afghan national army to be deployed when operations are occurring in the field at the core level. is that we are just not pulling out the medevac helicopters and your question is important one. we went to a great deal of trouble working with the general of the inisters to optimize all the resources necessary to take advantage of every capability we helicopter the medevac. there will be still helicopters fewer than youut are used to seeing. we have more work to do on the favors. we have the turboprop ground attack aircraft that is coming a series of crimin is delayed ssues it but the intent was to use some he transport helicopters to pgun those to be a gun ship variant so they could take the turboprop aircraft until it enters the force. production of pilots in the afghan air force, enough pilots to fly every airplane they have right now so the process of needs also to s ontinue to -- to continue unabated. a lot of afghan pilots are era ng pay who are soviet pilots who are not flying airplanes. so the conve

national army for afghanistan. nato and the united dates are leaving this year. the afghan national army has been left. they are being left arm less. the arms that they have our machine guns. we would like to know, what kind of equipment will you leave the military to defend themselves against invaders or aggressors? to defend a mountainous region like afghanistan. we do not have tanks or helicopters or the right equipment. >> gentlemen behind you, please. >> hi. i am peter. i am a student who came to be here. >> today know that? >> i will tell the one -- them w hen i come back. a lot of americans do not know about history. international history and things like empires or isolationism or expansionism. isn't there a problem with the formation of an american public opinion? a lot of americans think that what happens overseas is not important. they think they are in an empire that could go either way. isn't it dangerous for americans not to know enough about history? they will not be able to tell their congressman or senator. they cannot make informed decisions about things like national security or budge

widespread lack of security throughout the country there is no real assurance that the the afghan national army that the u.s. has invested sort of billions of dollars in in the national police are able to secure the situation inside their country. and you can keep up to date with ideas from afghanistan by following lisi caffein off on twitter he's providing regular reports for us fights and data all in the run up to the country's presidential election this weekend. the people of afghanistan head to the polls for the third time since the fall of the taliban but a little bit of both paved the way for the front lines of our democratic transfer of power of. these special let me. back coming up later in the program necessity meets luxury. continues to travel report from siberia this time on the controversial practice of wearing fur. off to. react to situations i have read the reports to. the no i will leave them to the state department to comment on your point of the month to get. a car is on the docket no longer a. little you know no more weasel words when you made a direct question be prepared for

a typical day for our soldiers includes patrolling alongside our afghan national army partners, standing watch on the demilitarized zone in brea, continuing security for them to see, manning missile batteries in guam, and assisting in the devastating mudslide in the state of washington. as we consider the future roles and missions of our army, comparative, we consider the world as it exists not as one we wish it to be. the recent headlines of russia's annexation of crimea, the intractable syrian civil war, artillery exchanges between north korea and south korea, adjust to name a few, remind us of the complexity and uncertainty inherent in the national security environment. it demands we make prudent decisions about the future capability and capacity that we need within our army. therefore, we must insure our army has the ability to rapidly respond to conduct the entire range of military operations from humanitarian assistance and stability operation to general war. we certainly appreciate the short-term predictability and fy '14 and fy '15 afforded by budget levels in the bipartisan budg

a typical day for our soldiers includes patrolling alongside our afghan national army partners, standing watch on the demilitarized zone in brea, continuing security for them to see, manning missile batteries in guam, and assisting in the devastating mudslide in the state of washington. as we consider the future roles and missions of our army, comparative, we consider the world as it exists not as one we wish it to be. the recent headlines of russia's annexation of crimea, the intractable syrian civil war, artillery exchanges between north korea and south korea, adjust to name a few, remind us of the complexity and uncertainty inherent in the national security environment. it demands we make prudent decisions about the future capability and capacity that we need within our army. therefore, we must insure our army has the ability to rapidly respond to conduct the entire range of military operations from humanitarian assistance and stability operation to general war. we certainly appreciate the short-term predictability and fy '14 and fy '15 afforded by budget levels in the bipartisan budg

both financially equal means have to be provided because one of the major problems that the afghan national army has is. so heavy weaponry is have to be provided for the afghan national security force. yes intelligence which is very important because now in afghanistan the n.s.f. is not fighting the taliban on the ground this is an intelligence war so the afghan intelligence has to provide more training more resources more financial support so they could prevent such attacks happening in kabul and across afghanistan because if you remember when the taliban are coming in kabul when when the taliban are able to make in kabul and across other cities in afghanistan. the reaction from the n.s.f. is very good but what's very important is that the intelligence has to track and trace these taliban insurgents who are crossing the border from pakistan into afghanistan then teligent has intelligence should find that capability to track down the taliban insurgents let's just have a quick final thought about the mechanics of this vote the way it's going to be counted the transparency the way it's going to be

widespread lack of security throughout the country there is no real assurance that the the afghan national army that the u.s. has invested so many billions of dollars in in the national police are able to secure the situation in the side of the country. and you can keep up to date the latest developments from afghanistan by following niecy catherine off on her twitter feed she is providing regular reports that is all in the run up to the country's presidential election this weekend. the people of afghanistan head to the polls for the third time since the fall of the taliban but both paved the way for the first of our democratic friends for our. current best hope but me. without a still to come in the program a former ally becomes a terrorist suspects the muslim brotherhood which enjoyed support from britain just two years ago is now under investigation there in a case this summer calling politically motivated. and autopsy reports from siberia on a thriving industry that's loved and condemned in equal measure we've got these stories possible after a quick break. in the advice of a financial repr

only if there's a true crisis would the afghan national police and army require support. e afghan national security forces today are much more capable than back in 2009. you've seen this in their response to the last several attacks that have happened in the kabul area itself. >> let's look at some poll results about how afghans feel about this election. according to a recent gallup poll, 70% of afghans lack confidence in the honesty of elections and that number is significantly higher than in 2009 when 49% lacked faith in the electoral process. is there going to be a credibility problem for whoever wins? >> this concerns me, just the numbers. you can't simply discount them, but at the same time, what i'm seeing, even in just the news clips you showed before, the enthusiasm for this election, the desire of the afghan people to participate in the process, i think is a more important metric than the polling. polling is always very strange in afghanistan, and the numbers that would be important are after the election. do the afghan people have credibility or i'm sorry, do the

the city and especially in the major roads that the intercom full of people from the army people from the afghan national police are stopping any kind of color are doing everything they can to make short of one that no one gets into this city with a crowd explosive devices proper vehicle for ied that right do everything they can after the wave of attacks was that lead up to this week. when the wind in the selection is simply an area off of a high focus and we've been speaking to show korea. lexi's who is a member of afghanistan's parliament and she told us about afghan women's that is a patient in the upcoming poll. i believe it two thousand and fourteen addiction is much different in two thousand and four in two thousand and nine election. because the document that women participation. starting from day registration process by giving vote. ten day camping get to me in different crowd than fifth and tenth day of very few candidates are selected to this entry was president to deal with men and one of the candidate dollars taking his life to honor campaigning at the event so it means that the romans the sh

and that afghan national security forces taking control on behalf of their civilian government of their open -- their own security because we can't and won't be afghan's long-term surrogate army we just won't. but i'm hopeful that both folks in the runoff maintain that commitment they made to sign it. on your point, i'll make two opinions. one, fully agree with mac. it's not just friends and allies. everywhere at region, we want things settledded diplomatically and so on. i will make one correction. the house never sends things up to the senate. we send them over to the senate. [laughter] >> one last round of questions here as we wrap up. thank you for that. we'll go to these two gentlemen in rows four and five. one right in front of the other. and then conclude. >> good afternoon. my name is ali sharaz. i am from afghanistan and also the united states of america. i'm the president of the national coalition for dialogue with the tribes of afghanistan. i have been involved in afghanistan's affairs for over 30 years. i'm the last 11 years of my life has been spent in afghanistan working with the tribes. i was -- i'm quite happy to hear the united states is again trying to -- wi

and that afghan national security forces taking control on behalf of their civilian government of their open -- their own security because we can't and won't be afghan's long-term surrogate army, we just won't. but i'm hopeful that both folks in the runoff maintain that commitment they made to sign it. on your point, i'll make two opinions. one, fully agree with mac. it's not just friends and allies. everywhere at region, we want things settled trying to -- will take a position of strength in the world to show the world day are the leader. i know it's a very difficult job few you and i know you do not have to share the burden of the whole responsibility. you will have friends around the world to support you, but the friends have to know you're there to stand by them. the problem in afghanistan, gentlemen, -- >> has to be a question. we have two left. >> we have established a army are inia. nato and the united states are leaving afghanistan within the year. the afghan acknowledge army has been left peppyless and armless, the only material, the arm they have, are the -- >> question. >> we would like to know, what type of equipment are you going to leave the afghan military with

planning that was done, the intent was that the afghan national security forces would have the lead for the security of the election. and the police close army providing outer court in support -- the army providing outer cordon support. trying to disrupt the elegant formations as much as they can. -- trying to disrupt the taliban formations as much as they can. you enter send the troubles we have had recently in kabul. have the attacks in kabul received a lot of attention, they did not have a widespread effect. they did achieve attention and cause concerns about the security of the city. at the same time, those attacks -- what is not necessarily understood or receiving very much attention is the activities specifically targeted against the taliban to keep them off balance and disrupt their support areas. generale final task dunford is undertaking is the task associated with receiving the force that will be coming in, supposing that the bilateral security agreement will be signed. and employee that force to the end of his mission. then begin the resolute support on january 1, 2015. remember thist to activity is occurring in an environment whe

army made gains against rebels in the west of the country near the lebanese border. the united nations says 140,000 people died since the war began. >> egypt's interim prime minister met the afghan governor. they arrived in the southern province following the killing of 23 people. 12 others were in soars condition. violence broke out on friday following a breakdown of talks between tribesman and villagers. >> antimilitary protests are continuing across egypt. demonstrations are in support of the depost president mohamed morsi. his trial for ipp sitement of -- incitement of violence has been adjourned until monday. the trials are described as absurd and legitimate. >> al jazeera demands the release of its journalists that have been in prison for 98 days. the trial of peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy, and mohammed badr has been adjourned until april 10th. a fourth, abdullah al-shami, has been detained without trial. after 75 cause on hunger strike his health is deteriorating. al jazeera rejects all charges against its journalists. >> a chinese ship looking for a missing malaysian airliner detected a missing signal. a black box detector on board the ship picked up the signal. the