Good morning, we meet to receive testimony on the situation in afghanistan, i am pleased to welcome general john ,icholson back to the committee we thank you for your many years of distinguished service and leadership of u. S. And allied forces in afghanistan at a critical time. We would ask you to relate to the brave men and women fighting under your command how appreciative and how proud we are of their service. At war ins been afghanistan for more than a decade and a half. It is always worth remembering that American Forces went to afghanistan because that was where, under the century of the under the taliban regime, now counted planned and trained for the september 11 attacks that killed 3000 innocent civilians on american soil. Our mission was to ensure that afghanistan would never again be a safe haven for al qaeda or other terrorist groups to attack america or our allies and partners, that mission has been successful for 15 years but it is not over. American forces are carrying out that Mission Today by performing to critical tasks, counterterrorism and training, advising and assisting our afghan partners. Both of these tasks are vital to achieving our strategic goals in protecting our homeland. We are taking the fight to americas enemies in afghanistan while at the same time holding a sustainable a sustainable Afghan Security forces that can stand on its own and take on violent extremists and deny terrorists safe haven in their country. Unfortunately, in recent years, peptide the hands of our military in afghanistan, and instead of trying to win, we settle for trying not to lose. Time and again, we saw a troop withdrawals that seem to have a lot more to do with american politics than conditions on the ground in afghanistan. The fixation with the socalled force Management Levels in afghanistan and in iraq and syria, seem far more about measuring troop levels than measuring success. Authorities were also highly restrictive, until last summer our villager was prohibited from targeting the taliban except in the most extreme circumstances, taking the pressure off the militants and allowing them to rebuild and reattach. While we were fighting crisis in syria and iraq, authorities in afghanistan were so restricted that it took an entire year before American Forces were finally given authority to strike isis fighters in afghanistan. In short, for too long, our strategy in afghanistan has been do not lose. Meanwhile, the risk you americanAfghan Forces has grown worse as the terrorist threat has intensified. Grown more has lethal and expanded territory and inflicted heavy casualties on Afghan Forces. In october, the taliban launched multiple concurrent offenses that seriously threatened for provincial capitals while Afghan Forces with u. S. Support successfully defended those capitals, the taliban seized the initiative, cap to the pressure on Afghan Forces, and captured new ground. In afghanistan, as we have seen elsewhere around the world, as americas pullback, vacuums have opened and have been filled by more of our enemies, al qaeda and a network continue to threaten our interests in afghanistan and beyond with isis trying to carve out another safe haven from which it can plan and execute attacks. Iran is reportedly arming and funding the taliban, and if the situation were not complicated enough, russia is now meddling in afghanistan and in an apparent attempt to prop up the taliban and undermine the United States. I want to stress an important important point, afghans are in the fight. They are not looking to us or anyone else to do their fighting for them. They are proud people who want people who wantom to defend the room country, they are taking significant casualties. At the same time, they want and need our continued assistance, it is in our National Interest to help our afghan partners become capable of standing on their own, defending their own country and defeating our common enemy with less and less assistance. Securing afghanistan and preventing another attack on our homeland requires the right number of people and the right places with the right authorities and the right capabilities. Has the administration opportunity to turn the page and finally get our commanders the resources and authorities they need to seize the initiative and force the enemy to react. Instead of the other way around. This will likely require additional u. S. And coalition forces, and more flexible authorities, it will require sustained support to the Afghan Security forces as they develop developling key enabling capabilities, including intelligence, logistics, special forces, support. Closed air support we in the congress have a vital role to play in providing the support, especially for the afghan aviation initiative. Succeeding in afghanistan will also require a candidate evaluation of americas relationship with pakistan. Haveands of pakistanis served and sacrificed in the fight against our common terrorist enemies. Many gave their lives and recent Counterterrorism Operations in north waziristan. , numerousemains terrorist groups still operate within pakistan, attacked its neighbors, and kill u. S. Forces. Put simply, our mission in afghanistan is an measurably more difficult if not impossible while our enemies pose as a safe haven in pakistan. These sanctuaries must be eliminated, if pakistani leaders have committed to doing the new Administration Must work with the congress to determine what additional actions are necessary to ensure that the enemies we continued to fight in afghanistan can find no quarter in pakistan or in any other country. America has been at work in afghanistan for 15 years. War in afghanistan for 15 years and it is imperative we see the mission through to success, we have seen what happens when we fail to be vigilant. The threats we face are real and the stakes are high the stakes are high, not just with the lives of the Afghan People and the stability of the region, but for Americas National security. To join inlike welcoming general nicholson, thank you for your service and her presence here today. As general nicholson often points out, afghanistan and pakistan area is home to the highest concentration of designated terrorist organizations in the world. Given this context it is important the United States in conjunction with nato and our other allies continue our commitment to the stability of afghanistan. Pakistani support for extremist groups operating in afghanistan, whether passive or deliberate, afghanistanwe and will achieve level levels needed of security. President obama maintaining 8400 troops in afghanistan into 2017 and provide robust support for the Afghan National defense and Security Forces lay the foundation for sustainable u. S. And International Presence in afghanistan, the decision is sent an Important Message to afghans, the taliban, and others in the region, couldnt pakistan regarding the commitment of the United States to continue progress in afghanistan. Support the continued of the Afghan People, we should adopt a conditionsbased approach to our presence in afghanistan that upright provides flexibility in the number of military personnel deployed there in support of our longerterm strategy. January 2017 market second year and was the Afghan Security or the chief guarantors of security in afghanistan, these forces continue to demonstrate determination and operational cohesion, even as they have been confronted by challenges, including intensified urban combat, increased casualties, and nearly continuous conflict that has hit at their ability to reset. This sustained operational temple is also a challenge beyond Coalition Training efforts and contributed to the difficulties of recruiting and retraining troops. , sustained combat operations have taken a particular toll on the Afghan SpecialOperations Forces, the most capable of the Afghan Security forces. They have been relied upon heavily to retake territory from the taliban, and overreliance on their special capabilities is is resulting in a high level of casualties and i look forward to your assessment of the performance of the Afghan Forces over the past year and played for sustaining the force and addressing remaining capability shortfalls. Aghanistan is and must remain key pillar of our longterm a global counterterrorism strategy , we continue to observe more aggressive taliban operations, capable of pressuring the Afghan Security forces simultaneously on multiple fronts. This is compounded by elements of the socalled Islamic State in iraq and the labonte and the lk, whone province orisi remained in afghanistan this fights suffering losses despite suffering losses, the Pakistani Military has increased operation on their side of the border, this resulted in an increase in number of bytes in afghanistan, which is ironic addition, elements of al qaeda, the taliban, and other associated groups continue to enjoy safe haven along the afghanistanpakistan border. To hear yourrtant views on the status of ever counterterror fight and the resources you require to continue this mission. The National Unity government led by president donnie and as demonstrated the will to work to a complex set of issues with the goal of addressing muchneeded political and governmental reform. I hope they will continue to do so. Particularly with respect to anticorruption, economic development, and other government initiatives which bowie centric to longterm success. I look i look forward to hearing your progress made in helping the afghan Central Forces built and reform afghan institutions which are critical to our longterm security. Thank you again for your service to the country and i look forward to your testimony. Sen. Mccain welcome general. The you need to punch there you go. Gen. Nicholson thank you, sir, members of the committee, thank you for the honor of appearing before you today. I appreciate this opportunity to update you on our mission in afghanistan. To thank the committee for your leadership and your dedication to the men and women of the United States forces in afghanistan and the nato resolution for mission. Deeply appreciate your visits to afghanistan and your steadfast support for protecting our homeland. Your commitment is also in building and enduring partner in the Afghan National defense and Security Forces. They know that we support them. It gives them the confidence they need to do their job. I would like to start by honoring the men and women who have served in afghanistan who are currently deployed there. U. S. Service members, nato allies, and by the way, the nato allies to invoke article five after 9 11 have been by our side ever since in afghanistan. And our nato partners who have joined the mission in afghanistan. I particularly want to highlight the role of the nato framework ,ations, italy, germany, turkey who provided leadership, manning , and funding and are nonnato partners such as georgia, the larger desk largest nonnato troop contributing nation. We should remember that as we sit here today, five americans and two citizens from our Coalition Partners are being held hostage in unknown locations. By members of the taliban aligned network. I would like to highlight the case of a doctor who has been unjustly imprisoned. Mennt to know it the brave and women of the Afghan Security forces and the people of afghanistan who are fighting for a secure and stable country, the success of our mission depends on their courage, determination, and sacrifice. Those heally remember made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in afghanistan. Their strength and the strength of their families inspires us to do our jobs. Our pledge is that we will deliver on their sacrifice. Main objective in afghanistan is to prevent our country from being used this country from being used as a safe haven for terrorists to attack the United States and our allies. We perform to complementary missions, the u. S. Counterterrorist mission, operation freedom sentinel, and the nato train, advise, and assist mission, Operation Resolute support. Of the 98 use as u. S. Designated terrorist groups globally, 20 operate in the afghanistanpakistan region with three violent extremist organizations, the highest concentration of terrorist groups anywhere in the world, which underscores the importance of our counterterrorism platform and essential asiasalvation region which protect our homeland. We remain focused on the defeat qaeda, and his associates, as well as the defeat of Islamic State khorasan province, the isil affiliate in afghanistan. Last year, the Afghan Forces developed and implemented a Detailed Campaign to take the fight to the enemy. It was a hard fight. But the Afghan Forces prevailed. They prevented the taliban from accomplishing any of their strategic objectives. The authorities and airpower which i was granted in june were critical to the success of the fight last year. The Afghan SpecialOperations Forces also played a crucial role, as a result of our role, as a result of our training, equipping, and partnering, the 17,000 strong Afghan Special forces are the best in the region. They now operate independently on roughly 80 of their missions. The Afghan Air Force is also rapidly gaining capability. The first rather tax aircraft entered the fight in april. They are now integrating Intelligence Surveillance and reconnaissance assets into the new targeting process, they are making great progress. Congressional approval of the funding for the Afghan Air Force is key to improving the offensive capability of the Afghan National defense and Security Forces. There is an urgency to this request, in order to get these aircraft and air crews into the as soon asble possible. I am concerned about external actors, particularly pakistan, russia, iran, who legitimize and support the taliban and undermine the Afghan Governments efforts to create a stable afghanistan. Our complex relationship with pakistan is best assessed through a holistic review. Many nations are committed to the success of afghanistan. Julye warsaw summit last nato reaffirmed its commitment until 2020the amd sf and at the brussels conference in october 75 countries and organizations confirm their intention to provide 15. 2 billion to Afghan Development needs which plays a very positive role going into the future. India has dedicated another 1 billion on top of the 2 billion they have already given to Afghan Development needs and we appreciate their support. These expressions of International Commitment reflects the importance which the world places on stability in afghanistan and confidence in and confidence in the Afghan People in and Afghan Government. The Afghan Security forces in 2016. Avely they will do the same this year and in the years in 2016. They will do the same this year and in the years ahead. The Afghan People have confidence in their Security Services and they do not want the taliban to return. They know all too well what that means. We have an Exceptional Partnership with their president and the chief of the chief executive and the Security Forces and the people of afghanistan. The president is making bold reforms and implement anticorruption efforts to improve the afghanistan Security Forces and the government of afghanistan is committed to achieving peace through how astion but long as external say caven persists, the path to reconciliation will be difficult. Afghanistan wants peace and we hope their neighbors realize that their best interests are also served by a peaceful and prosperous afghanistan. Mr. Chairman, committee members, it is a privilege to appear before you and i look forward to your questions. Losing . E winning or gen. Nicholson mr. Chairman, i believe we are in a stalemate. Sen. Mccain our afghan partners have been sustaining very significant losses. I am not sure that is sustainable. The level of losses they are experiencing. Gen. Nicholson we are very concerned about the level of losses. The recurrent recruitment replaces the level of losses that they are experiencing. However, it does not allow them to get to their full authorized strength, which they are below. Sen. Mccain accor