Can U.S.-Afghan Partnership Work?

Violence against NATO troops by Afghan security forces in reponse to burning of the Quran at the Bagram Air Base has reignited doubts over the U.S. endgame in Afghanistan, which hinges on handing over security to Afghan forces. The weekend’s killing of two U.S. soldiers by an Afghan security official comes just one month after four French soldiers were killed (Guardian) by an Afghan army trainee, an incident that prompted Paris to speed up withdrawal plans. Senior U.S. officials said Washington will stay its course in Afghanistan as planned (Reuters), but lack of trust on both sides complicates the future of the international mission.

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