*EPF502 06/18/2004
Department of Defense Report, June 18: Afghanistan Update
(U.S. commander outlines progress toward democracy in Afghanistan) (330)

Afghanistan continues making progress toward democracy as Afghans register to vote in the September national elections and as the nation raises an army, says Lieutenant General David Barno.

Over four million Afghans have registered to vote in the September elections, "a key barometer of the commitment of the individual Afghans to their democratic future," the U.S. commander in Afghanistan told reporters in a video-teleconference June 17.

The Afghan National Army has met its goal of 10,000 soldiers this month and will double that number in the next year, the general said, adding that as the army and Afghan National Police have matured, "terrorist remnants are becoming increasingly wary of taking them on."

Fifteen provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) will be operating by the end of the month, in comparison to only four a year ago, Barno said, explaining that the PRTs identify projects that help the people of their province, extend the reach of the national government, and help provide the security framework for the upcoming election.

The Taliban, al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups are being squeezed by military operations on both sides of the Afghanistan and Pakistan borders, operations that recently have been enhanced with communications capabilities at the tactical level "so that commanders on both sides of the border can stay in close communications with each other," he said. He commended the Pakistani military and its aggressive efforts to rid Pakistani tribal areas of all terrorist threats.

Barno noted that Afghanistan faces continuing challenges that include eliminating the threat of narcotics trafficking, demobilizing regional militias, expanding the capacity of local government, and advancing reconstruction. "Meeting these and other challenges that this emerging democracy, here in this very critical part of the world, faces will not be easy. But the Afghan people will not be facing these challenges alone," he promised.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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