Taliban living in 'fantasy world': IISS defence expert

February 06, 2014 02:11

The Taliban are living in a "fantasy world" and their chances of achieving their objectives after Western troops leave Afghanistan are extremely low, a military think-tank expert said today.

The Afghan security forces are "thoroughly in control" of counter-insurgency, said Brigadier Ben Barry, senior fellow on land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

They should be able to successfully protect the April 5 presidential election, though with 11 candidates, it is difficult to predict whether the transfer of power will be smooth, he said.

The Taliban's military offencive in 2013 failed, while their attacks in Kabul had political but negligible security impact, Barry said.

"What we've got now is the Afghan security forces thoroughly in control of doing counter-insurgency and securing Afghanistan," he told AFP at the IISS's London headquarters after the launch of the think tank's main annual report.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Scale of human rights abuses increased under Modi: US report

An independent United States Congressional research report has alleged that the scope and scale of human rights abuses in India has increased under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

IndiGo, Air India plan to buy 170 wide-body planes

In little over a year, Air India and IndiGo have announced plans to purchase up to 170 wide-body planes as they bet on ambitious expansion and efforts also continue to make India a global aviation hub. Also, the two carriers' orders...

EC issues notice over Modi's 'mangalsutra' speech

Separately, the poll panel also issued a notice to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, asking him to respond to the complaints filed by the BJP against him and the main opposition party's senior leader Rahul Gandhi regarding their...

Firing outside Salman's home: Cops claim 'international link'

The Mumbai police on Thursday told a court in Mumbai that there is a possibility of an 'international connection' in the recent firing outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence.

Nehra, not Hardik, built GT legacy? Gill's admission

Shubman Gill feels that he will be "doing injustice to himself and his team" if national selection occupies his mind.