Inside Story

The American exit strategy

But are Afghan security forces ready to take control of their country?

When the US president, unveiled his exit strategy from Afghanistan in December 2009, he also announced the deployment of an additional 30,000 troops to the country. 

Barack Obama did so with the promise that US troops will begin a phased withdrawal from Afghanistan by the summer of 2011. According to him, the ultimate goal is to hand over control to Afghan forces by 2014.  

But will Afghan security forces be able to take control of their country and what happens when US forces pull out? 

Inside Story, with presenter Dareen Abughaida, discusses with Daoud Sultanzoy, a former member of the Afghan parliament, and Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Centre for American Progress, where his work focuses on US national security policy in the Middle East and South Asia.

This episode of Inside Story aired on June 22, 2011.