Furthermore, Afghan security forces might in fact be able to achieve their objectives without any air support. Night operations might be one way to do this. However, despite the Afghan government forces’ advantage over the insurgents in this field – according to the Police Special Forces deployed to Raghistan, every of their 85 men had night vision goggles; in contrast, a defector claimed that the insurgents in Raghistan only possess three such devices – as well as the fact that there have been some night operations in Raghistan, it does not appear that there has been a specific emphasis on night operations. While the reason for this could not be determined and the Afghan Ministry of Defence usually underscores that the Afghan National Army conducts night raids throughout the country, one would be forgiven for thinking that it is because it is simply easier to complain about the lack of air support than it is to plan and execute hazardous night operations.

In general, Afghan government forces should more focus on how to make the best use of what they have, rather than complain about what they lack. That is how the insurgents operate – the militants, after all, captured the very same hills and other fortified positions throughout the country without a single aircraft at their disposal and with far less than the Afghan security forces have.

Franz J. Marty is a freelance journalist based in Kabul, Afghanistan, writing mainly on security and military issues. He can be followed @franzjmarty on Twitter.

Image: Photo of A-29 Super Tocano in Afghanistan/Franz Marty