Reuters
02/01/2007
By
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KABUL - The Unites States handed over thousands of weapons and hundreds of vehicles to Afghanistan's fledgling national army on Thursday as part of its strategy to boost local security forces in the fight against the Taliban.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai attended the handover of 800 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles and other trucks, and 12,000 heavy and light arms in Kabul.

"This is the first time that we have received such major help for strengthening our army," Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said after the ceremony.

Karzai described the package as "part of the tip of the iceberg" of the long-term U.S. commitment to Afghanistan.

The U.S. government is asking Congress for an extra $10.6 billion for Afghanistan -- $8.6 billion of that for helping the army and police -- over two years.

Ahead of what U.S. and Afghan commanders warn will be a bloody spring offensive by the Taliban within months, Washington also doubled its ground combat troops by extending the tour of duty for some of its troops here by four months.

The moves come as the United States prepares to take over the 33,000-strong NATO-led force here from the British on Sunday and after the bloodiest year since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.

About 4,000 people died in violence last year, mostly rebels but a quarter of them civilians and 170 of them foreign soldiers.

With billions more dollars in aid, Afghanistan also hopes to revive its air force, Azimi said, something Afghan officials say is vital in such a rugged country where land movement is limited.

Afghanistan's army disintegrated in 1992 after the overthrow of the Moscow-backed government by Western-funded Mujahideen (holy warrior) groups.

The country's air force, army, police and security agencies had until then been trained and equipped by the Soviet Union.

The United States and other allies are helping rebuild, train and equip the army -- due to increase to 70,000 by 2008 from 38,000, as well as the police force.

There are more than 40,000 foreign soldiers in Afghanistan under NATO and under a separate U.S.-led coalition.

Many military and counter-insurgency analysts say the combined Afghan and foreign forces are not enough to fight the Taliban and other militants, many of whom shelter and train in safe havens in Pakistan.

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