Are Afghan Soldiers Ready to Defend Their Country?

World Today

Nearly 200,000 Afghan troops are being deployed to protect voters and polling stations in Saturday’s national elections. Americans and Afghans have worked side-by-side for the past seven years to train thousands of the country’s soldiers.  However, in every way imaginable, the Afghan National Army is heading down a lonely road.

After depending on U.S. and international troops to provide security since 2001, those forces are set to leave at the end of 2014, leaving this fledgling democracy in the hands of Afghan nationals. U.S. led forces here provided a wealth of military hardware and training. But there is no question that is coming to an end. The question remains, are Afghan soldiers up to the challenge they face?

CCTV’s Sean Callebs met recruits at the Kabul Military Training Center to find out.