KABUL, 31 August 2003 — The Afghan National Army should be the body to protect Afghanistan from foreign intervention in the future, President Hamid Karzai said yesterday on the inauguration of the ANA.
“Don’t allow this country to be the victim of foreign invasions any more. Let the elders, youth, water, mines, woods etcetera of this country be rid of foreign conspiracies,” Karzai said.
Establishing the ANA was a matter of prestige for the entire Afghan nation, he said. “The ANA is for the whole nation which sacrificed almost two million people for independence and sovereignty.” Afghan authorities agreed last year to establish a 70,000-strong multiethnic National Army, but until now, with the help of foreign instructors, only 5,300 soldiers have been trained.
“The ANA is a trained, disciplined fighting force capable of conducting both combat and civil military affairs operations as demonstrated during Operation Warrior Sweep in July,” US-led forces spokesman Rodney Davis said in a press statement.
Afghanistan was due to start a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) program in June 2001, but this was delayed owing to reforms at the Ministry of Defense.
On the battle front, US-backed Afghan forces have killed at least 33 militants in three days of fighting against suspected Taleban insurgents in southeastern Afghanistan, the US military said yesterday as Afghan officials reported 20 more deaths.
Afghan and US-led coalition forces have been engaged in a major operation against suspected Taleban and Al-Qaeda bases in the mountains of Daychopan district of Zabul province, 300 km southwest of Kabul.
US military spokesman Col. Rodney Davis said the coalition confirmed at least 33 militants were killed in fighting between Monday and Wednesday.
Afghan officials in Zabul said a further 20 suspected Taleban were killed on Friday while US aircraft were yesterday continuing to bomb suspected militant bases.
