Blackwater may get contract of privatisation of war in Afghanistan
Monitoring Desk: The US military leadership is considering replacing US regular Army in Afghanistan with military contractors and most probably Blackwater (new name Academi) would get contract of privatisation of war in Afghanistan.
Academi is an American private military company founded in 1997 known as Blackwater, renamed as Xe Services in 2009 and now known as Academi since 2011 after the company was acquired by a group of private investors.
Meanwhile, Russia has strongly opposed the possible American decision to replace the regular US Army in Afghanistan with military contractors
Zamir Kabulov, Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan and Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Second Asian Department believes war contractors would help to further destabilise the region. Zamir Kabulov believes that presence of US Army has failed to bring peace in Afghanistan while Afghanistan risks becoming a global incubator of international terrorism.
“Moscow does not see the need for further presence of the American contingent in Afghanistan”, said Zamir Kabulov.
It may be mentioned that the US Department of Defense has spent more than $76 billion on weapons and equipment for the Afghan security forces since 2002 and paid for 600,000 weapons, including rifles and pistols, for the Afghan Army and police. The key equipment provided included 163,000 tactical and non-tactical radios; 76,000 vehicles, 30,000 equipment items for disposing of explosives, 16,000 equipment items for intelligence, surveillance and unmanned surveillance drones.
It may be mentioned that General John Nicholson earlier this year told the US Senate Armed Services Committee that several thousand more troops were needed in order to boost the capabilities of the Afghan security forces. Nicholson said troop injections could come from the US military or NATO nations.
According to the National Priorities Project (NPP) report, US spent more than $780 billion in Afghanistan since 2001.
Islamabad Bureau adds:
Meanwhile, the top regional US military command headed by General Joseph L. Votel, Commander United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) is visiting Pakistan to discuss future of Afghanistan with military and civilian leadership of Pakistan.
General Joseph L. Votel met Chief of Pakistan Army General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday evening and held meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan on Saturday morning.
According to official statement of Pakistan Army, matters of professional interest with special focus on security situation in Afghanistan were discussed during the meeting of General Joseph L. Votel with Chief of Pakistan Army General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday evening.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that no other country has more interest for peace in Afghanistan than Pakistan. US Ambassador to Pakistan Mr David Hale was also present.
General Joseph L. Votel, Commander U.S. CENTCOM, along with his delegation met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in Islamabad on Saturday morning. Pak US relation, mutual cooperation and regional situation discussed. Foreign Minister Khawja Mohammad Asif, Defence Minister Khurrum Dastgir, NSA Gen (R) Nasir Janjua and Foreign Secretary also present during the meeting.
