By Idrees Ali
Washington (Reuters) - Afghanistan forces could face a shortage of more than 90,000 coats this winter, which may affect its ability to fight the Taliban, a U.S. government watchdog said.
In a letter to the Pentagon dated Sept. 16, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko said the shortage could extend into next year.
See the full letter at https://www.sigar.mil/pdf/alerts/SIGAR-15-86-AL.pdf
Sopko wrote that the U.S.-led Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A), which is responsible for training Afghan forces, had ordered more than 75,000 coats for Afghan police for delivery by July 2015, but they still had not been delivered.
Another 15,000 coats were not scheduled to be delivered until July 2016, it said.
"A lack of cold-weather clothing could adversely impact the overall effectiveness of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) and degrade their operational capabilities," he wrote.
Winters in Afghanistan can be frigid, with temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 9 degrees C) in the Hindu Kush mountain range. The coldest temperatures are usually at high elevations.
Afghan security forces have faced an intensified Taliban insurgency since a U.S.-led military coalition formally ended its combat mission last year.
About 12,000 NATO troops have remained in Afghanistan to train and assist Afghan forces.
According to the letter, from 2011 to 2013 the procurement of cold-weather clothing was the responsibility of Afghan ministries, while the United States funded the purchases.
When clothing shortages became apparent, the United States took back responsibility for procurement.
Shipments of clothing resumed in May 2014, but only Afghan police received coats, the letter said. Neither the army nor the police received sweaters, gloves or caps.
SIGAR said the Pentagon had 335,054 coats on order for the Afghan army, but they were not expected to be delivered until 2017.
A SIGAR official said the letter was part of a larger audit that should be published by early 2016.
The Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan did not respond to a request for comment.