KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 22 Afghan Air Force (AAF) pilots have been awarded certificates on completing training in the Czech Republic.

The Presidential Palace said Afghan Ambassador in Prague Shahzada Aryubi congratulated the pilots at the graduation ceremony.

Aryubi appreciated the US and NATO, especially the Czech Republic, for facilitating the training programme, a statement from President Ashraf Ghani’s office said.

The diplomat was quoted as saying: “I want to congratulate the leading multinational company Raytheon on having successfully completed the pilot training programme.”

Addressing the pilots, he said: “I am proud of you, the Afghan National Army and AAF.

“You have successfully completed the training programme. In all of you we see the values of integrity, patriotism, devoted service and excellence in defending our country and the people of Afghanistan.”

The graduation cerement was attended by the deputy head of the Defence Policy and Strategy Section Radomir Jahoda, Czech Minister of Defence of Czech, Leslie Keith Dunson, PEO-STRI, Faisal Naseri, the class leader of pilots and other guests.

They reiterated support for the Afghan security forces from the Czech Republic. Another batch of AAF pilots is currently receiving training and will graduate soon.

sa/mud

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