Pentagon: 44 Afghan Soldiers Have Gone Missing During Training in the U.S.

The Pentagon, the U.S. Department of Defense, announced on Thursday, October 7, that 44 Afghan soldiers undergoing military training in the U.S. have gone missing in less than two years, and it is suspected that they are illegally working and living in the U.S. According to Reuters, although the number of these individuals is relatively small, it raises questions and concerns regarding security and vetting in the Afghan military training programs. Since 2007, approximately 2,200 Afghan soldiers have participated in training courses in the U.S. The disappearance of these individuals could embarrass the U.S. government, which has spent billions of dollars over 15 years in this costly war to transfer security and military responsibilities to Afghan forces. The revelation of this issue could provide a new excuse for Donald Trump's supporters to accuse Barack Obama's administration of weakness in controlling immigrants from Muslim countries, promising stricter measures if he gains the presidency. While soldiers from other countries undergoing training in the U.S. have previously deserted, a U.S. Department of Defense official stated that the number of Afghan soldiers going missing in the U.S. is unusual and concerning. A Pentagon spokesperson told Reuters that only since September, eight Afghan soldiers have left military training centers without permission. He added that a total of 44 Afghan soldiers have gone missing since January 2015, and the number of deserters had not been previously disclosed. Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesperson, stated, 'We are exploring various ways to ensure accuracy and rigor in vetting to reduce the likelihood of Afghan soldiers deserting training programs and being absent without leave.' According to him, the files of Afghan soldiers sent for training in the U.S. are reviewed before their arrival in the country, and they can come to the U.S. only after ensuring they have not participated in human rights violations or are affiliated with insurgent and extremist groups. Another U.S. Department of Defense official, who requested anonymity, said there is no evidence that these deserters have committed crimes in the U.S. or are considered a threat to the U.S. Reuters reminds that in the past, Taliban forces have infiltrated the ranks of the Afghan army and security forces, enabling them to attack Afghan personnel or American forces. However, due to increased security measures recently, the number of such infiltrations has decreased. Since 2002, the U.S. government has spent approximately $60 billion to equip and train Afghan forces, but the security situation in Afghanistan remains unstable, and it is estimated that Taliban-controlled areas are currently larger than they were in 2001 when U.S. forces occupied Afghanistan. Barack Obama abandoned his plan earlier this year to reduce U.S. troops in Afghanistan by half, and it was decided that 8,800 U.S. military personnel would remain in Afghanistan until the end of his presidency in January 2017. According to U.S. officials, part of the training courses that Afghan soldiers participate in relates to counterintelligence and special units. Defense officials have not disclosed the names of the Afghan soldiers who have gone missing so far. U.S. officials confirmed that one of the missing soldiers was arrested while attempting to enter Canadian territory. It is unclear how many of these deserters have been identified by U.S. security agencies, and the Department of Homeland Security has declined to comment on this matter. Experts say that in many cases, low morale and lack of necessary training to fight the Taliban, as well as poverty and economic problems, lead Afghan armed forces personnel to desert.