Afghanistan rejects report on govt collapse after NATO withdrawal

KABUL - Afghanistan rejected a report that the government could collapse after NATO and US forces pull out by the end of 2014, local media reported on Tuesday.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) in a report released on Monday said that the Afghan government is "far from ready" to assume the responsibilities for security when US and NATO forces withdraw in 2014, particularly if presidential elections are fraudulent.

"We believe, the report has particular political goals and agenda and that the report contained no evidence to enable its authors to justify their concerns," the Daily Outlook Afghanistan quoted chief Afghan presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi as saying.

In 2009 and 2010, the country suffered chaotic presidential and parliamentary polls.

The report by the Brussels-based group came days after Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that the presidential elections will be held on time in 2014, saying the foreign troops' withdrawal and insecurity will not suspend the elections.

There are about 100,000 US and NATO-strong forces stationed in the country to curb the Taliban-led insurgency entering its 12th year. But the last of 33,000 US surge troops pulled out of the country in September.

Faizi also said that the country's security forces were capable enough to take full control of the country in 2014 in accordance with the timetable agreed by Afghanistan and the NATO.

"Afghanistan doesn't want to return to civil strife again and it stands united to defend its territorial integrity," he noted.

The war-weary Afghans had expressed concerns over the capability of their national security forces in maintaining security while Karzai and his high-ranking military officials on several occasions displayed their confidence in the country's army and police in protecting civilians.