First Taliban-trained army unit graduates in Paktia

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): A 75-member unit has been trained and graduated at the 203rd Thunder Corps headquarters in southeastern Paktia province for deployment to various areas for security maintenance.

Maulvi Badruddin Ibrahimi, acting commander of the Thunder Corps in Paktia, told Pajhwok Afghan News that for the first time they trained 75 soldiers for one and a half month to maintain law and order.

He added that the soldiers of the unit would be deployed in different places under the guidance of senior officials. He said the graduates had been imparted basic training, which would follow higher military training.

Ibrahimi said training for a professional army would continue and more soldiers would be trained.

Qari Abasin, a graduate, said: "We received a 45 day training, which included the use of weapons, and how to cope with an emergency situation and other matters."

He said they had undergone litter training in the field and the latest professional training would help them a lot.

With the Taliban coming into power, security incidents have reduced in all provinces of the southeastern zone, and officials say they will do more to improve security.

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