The US and its coalition
allies on Jan. 1 handed off combat operations in Afghanistan to the 350,000-strong
Afghan military and security forces, kicking off Operation Freedom’s Sentinel,
the US training and advising mission to support the Afghan government. As part
of OFS, the US will pursue two missions, said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
The first supports NATO’s Operation Resolute Support mission to advise, train,
and assist Afghan forces, while the second continues counter terrorism
activities against “remnants” of al Qaeda. US combat activities as part of the
new mission already have received some attention, as DOD appears to be scaling
back the scope of its activities in the country. The Pentagon has made clear it
will not be targeting al Qaeda members or leaders, unless
they
are linked to specific threats against US forces or Afghan allies. The
13,000 troops left in country working with NATO’s ORS will focus on specific
areas at the “ministerial, operational, and institutional level”, according to
NATO’s release on
the occasion. That will include budgeting, transparency and oversight, civilian
control of the military, force generation, sustainment, strategy and planning,
intelligence, and strategic communications. (Read
President
Barack Obama and
Defense
Secretary Chuck Hagel’s statements on the occasion.)