National forces can respond to any threat: Habibi

KABUL (Pajhwok): Seven females were among 317 officers graduated on Thursday from the Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim Defence University’s officers academy in Kabul.

Their graduation ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Abdullah Habibi, other Ministry of Defence officials and ambassadors of the UK and Australia.

Habibi said the Afghanistan security and defence forces had strengthened enough to respond to any threat.

Addressing the graduates, the minister said soldiers during training had responsibility towards themselves but after graduation, they assumed responsibility towards the entire nation.

He said soldiers could succeed in the battlefield when they had unity among them and they did not allow anyone to create differences and prejudice against each other.

Young officers academy commander at the Marshal Qasim Fahim Defence University, Gen. Mohammad Sharif Sharif, said it was the sixth batch graduating from the academy.

He said the officers underwent one-year training in theory and practical lessons.

Gen. Sharifi said the academy was established four years ago and so far 1657 officers had graduated from it. He said officer cadets were imparted training in consultation with foreign mentors in line with international standards.

British ambassador in Kabul Dominic Jermey in his address to the graduating officers said: “Your families’ bravery is praiseworthy for sending you for the defence of the country.”

Australian ambassador Johnathon Ball said: “The people of Afghanistan are not naïve to wars, they have always defended their motherland with extreme bravery.”

The two ambassadors insisted on continued assistance of their countries with the academy.

Among the graduates was one Jan Agha, who said he would defend the country’s soil until his last breath.

He said his father was an army officer who died in the line of duty and he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and joined the military.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the strength of the Afghan National Army currently reaches 1, 95,000.

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