Panel sets goal of 400,000 Afghan forces in 5 yrs.

[February 04, 2010]  KABUL (AP) -- A joint panel agreed Wednesday to boost the number of Afghan security forces from the current level of about 191,000 to 400,000 within five years, bringing it in line with similar goals announced by the United States.

Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal also sharply denounced a U.N. report released Tuesday that claimed Afghans paid nearly $2.5 billion in bribes -- worth almost a quarter of the country's GDP -- in the 12-month period ending last autumn.

He acknowledged a problem with corruption but said the report was exaggerated and compiled without government input. "It was made up of lies," he told reporters at a news conference. "We accept that there is corruption, but we have come a long way."

The force level goals, meanwhile, were announced as part of the Afghan government's strategy for confronting the insurgency, including overtures to Taliban militants, building up its security forces and tackling corruption one week ahead of a key international conference.

The Jan. 28 conference is aimed at bolstering support for the government at a time when the U.S. and NATO allies are sending 37,000 reinforcements to ramp up the fight against the Taliban.

The government is calling for 240,000 Afghan soldiers and 160,000 national police to be ready in three to five years, Zakhilwal said. That's up from about 94,000 Afghan police officers and 97,000 soldiers now.

More specifically, he said the board approved a goal of 134,000 soldiers and 109,000 police by the end of this year. That would increase to 172,000 soldiers and 134,000 police by the end of 2011.

U.S. officials have said the goals would be reassessed after 2011 based on results of the U.S. and NATO troop surge and a plan to reintegrate Taliban militants who renounce violence.

The Obama administration believes the key to stability in Afghanistan is a strong security force that can protect the country and allow U.S. and other foreign troops to go home. The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, also has set the goal of building the Afghan security forces to 400,000 by 2013.

The goals were approved during a meeting Wednesday by the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board, including representatives from the government, the U.N. and major troop contributing countries. The board was finalizing programs to be presented at the London conference.

U.S. officials have said the military effort cannot succeed without major reforms in the weak and corrupt Afghan government.

Former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani, a sharp critic of President Hamid Karzai, also submitted a report outlining new ideas for tackling corruption, which international officials believe has been driving Afghans into Taliban ranks.

Zakhilwal said the proposals, which included an anti-corruption mechanism for each ministry, would be discussed.

A Taliban reintegration plan also was approved during the meeting, which was held amid tight security following Monday's coordinated attack by Taliban suicide bombers that brought the capital to a standstill.

Karzai's government is promising to have a two-pronged reintegration plan to persuade Taliban militants to switch sides ready by the spring to present to international donors who will have to come up with the money needed to lure them off the battlefield, according to an action plan that was approved Wednesday.

The international community has said key Taliban leaders like Mullah Mohammed Omar would not be part of any reintegration plan. However, the document does offer "key leaders of the Taliban movement" an opportunity for amnesty and reintegration, according to a copy obtained by The Associated Press.

Central to the plan will be a Grand Peace Council, that will include representation by all aspects of Afghanistan's society, including religious leaders, with the purpose of giving armed opponents a guarantee that their views will be heard.

"The government will provide the Taliban and other insurgent groups who wish to respect the constitution a dignified way to renounce violence and peacefully reintegrate into their communities and separate themselves from their past," said the draft report.

"The rank-and-file Taliban are not al-Qaida, they are our neighbors and cousins, and to achieve peace we need only remove their reason to fight," the document said. "As victory will not be achieved on the battlefield alone, but in the hearts and minds of our citizens, no effort can be spared to eliminate the civilian casualties that strengthen the enemy and rally support for their case."

[Associated Press; By KATHY GANNON]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.