Kabul, (AVA)- Regarding the foreign forces withdrawal, presidential election, Taliban "Spring Operations" commencement and making heavier burdensome for providing security on national army shoulder, Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) privately interviewed Gen. Zaher Azimi, the national defence spokesman. The interview context is as below:
AVA: How much potential is national army to lead the operations as the year of 2014 and NATO forces withdrawal are approaching and the Taliban "Spring Operations" is ongoing?
Azimi: Afghan national army almost stands on its own feet and 90% of operations are led by Afghan national army now and until June 20, national army will take the whole responsibilities of providing security. National army provides security of 80% of Afghan nation. Afghanistan will be left threats of Taliban attacks since Afghanistan will have 352,000 army forces and benefit from $4,200,000 military annual aid after 2014.
AVA: How do you evaluate the security transition process?
Azimi: The security of areas being provided by Afghan national army is improved by 15-20%.
AVA: How will foreign forces withdraw from Afghan regarding the security transition process?
Azimi: The foreign forces withdrawal will be carried out in two steps: the first phase will be done on 2014 and the second phase will be announced after 2014 according to Afghanistan agreements.
AVA: How much time does it take that Afghan nation army take full security responsibility?
Azimi: If national army has enough budgets, it will take 2 years.
AVA: How much has national army been equipped with heavy weapon? How much has air forces been improved?
Azimi: Afghan army has been equipped and improved by foreign forces but air forces are suffering from lack of equipments. Afghanistan will have been assisted with 20 war fight planes, 4 American planes 137c in transport section, 20 Russian helicopters by the end of 2014. Now, Afghanistan has 20 various planes with good air forces infrastructure namely a training center in which 100 training flight is conducted daily and 150 people is studying pilotage leading Afghanistan to be independent step by step.
AVA: Did the direction for the Russian air forces equipments restoration issue due to the Afghan-Pak border conflict? Or how much can the direction solve the Afghan forces problems?
Azimi: The direction was not issued just for Air forces equipment restoration but ground weapons, namely BMP tank and Gunner weapons. Afghanistan was seeking for reacting against Pakistan actions but meeting its forces needs.
AVA: Was the direction issued because of Afghanistan despair of West-Afghan cooperation?
Azimi: "Tens of million dollars has been allocated for Afghan national army. Although the whole facilities, ammunition, equipments and training have been given to Afghanistan by U.S due to high expenses of Afghan army, we tried to use our own potentiality."
AVA: A number of experts believe that lack of military service to form the army is one of the main challenges laid ahead of armed forces. Do you agree? What are the flaws and strengths of the current armed force system?
Azimi: The volunteers form 80% of Afghan army forces and they have been trained as professional forces. This system of recruiting soldiers is being implemented in Russia. Afghanistan can not adopt such system unless Afghanistan security improves, military service is discussed in Afghanistan constitution, though.
AVA: How will ANA expenses be met regarding the possible cutting down of foreign aids?
Azimi: Although there are people injecting the feeling of disappointment about the Afghanistan future, the World Community will annually aid Afghanistan with $4,100,000,000 after 2014 leading the ANA needs to be fulfilled for 10 years.
AVA: Are the American and West media reports on hundreds of ANA forces escape true? What is the reason?
Azimi: "These problems are being tackled. Our casualties have been reduced by 50% including martyrs and disabled soldiers. We are confronting technical issues but not operational problems."
AVA: Some charge Afghan Defence Department with corruption especially Gen. Daoud Hospital case. What is your response? How much does Afghanistan rely on the American superintendent?
Azimi: ANA's corruption is much less than any other state organizations since we control the budget closely. There has been no evidence relating Gen. Daoud Hospital case.
AVA: How do think of the UK secret prison in Helmand? What was the Defence Department reaction? What steps have government taken to retake the prison?
Azimi: Afghan government officially requested England to hand over the prisoners. According to law and Afghan-West agreement, if a suspect is detained by foreign forces, he should be handed over to Afghan government after 96 hours.
Gen. Zaher Azimi was born in 1954 in Herat and joined Mujahedin in 1978. After Mujahedin victory, he was promoted to major general and Herat commissioner. After fighting against Taliban in 2003, Azimi was appointed as the head of Defence public relations, public affairs and finally spokesman for the Defence Department.
AVA: How much potential is national army to lead the operations as the year of 2014 and NATO forces withdrawal are approaching and the Taliban "Spring Operations" is ongoing?
Azimi: Afghan national army almost stands on its own feet and 90% of operations are led by Afghan national army now and until June 20, national army will take the whole responsibilities of providing security. National army provides security of 80% of Afghan nation. Afghanistan will be left threats of Taliban attacks since Afghanistan will have 352,000 army forces and benefit from $4,200,000 military annual aid after 2014.
AVA: How do you evaluate the security transition process?
Azimi: The security of areas being provided by Afghan national army is improved by 15-20%.
AVA: How will foreign forces withdraw from Afghan regarding the security transition process?
Azimi: The foreign forces withdrawal will be carried out in two steps: the first phase will be done on 2014 and the second phase will be announced after 2014 according to Afghanistan agreements.
AVA: How much time does it take that Afghan nation army take full security responsibility?
Azimi: If national army has enough budgets, it will take 2 years.
AVA: How much has national army been equipped with heavy weapon? How much has air forces been improved?
Azimi: Afghan army has been equipped and improved by foreign forces but air forces are suffering from lack of equipments. Afghanistan will have been assisted with 20 war fight planes, 4 American planes 137c in transport section, 20 Russian helicopters by the end of 2014. Now, Afghanistan has 20 various planes with good air forces infrastructure namely a training center in which 100 training flight is conducted daily and 150 people is studying pilotage leading Afghanistan to be independent step by step.
AVA: Did the direction for the Russian air forces equipments restoration issue due to the Afghan-Pak border conflict? Or how much can the direction solve the Afghan forces problems?
Azimi: The direction was not issued just for Air forces equipment restoration but ground weapons, namely BMP tank and Gunner weapons. Afghanistan was seeking for reacting against Pakistan actions but meeting its forces needs.
AVA: Was the direction issued because of Afghanistan despair of West-Afghan cooperation?
Azimi: "Tens of million dollars has been allocated for Afghan national army. Although the whole facilities, ammunition, equipments and training have been given to Afghanistan by U.S due to high expenses of Afghan army, we tried to use our own potentiality."
AVA: A number of experts believe that lack of military service to form the army is one of the main challenges laid ahead of armed forces. Do you agree? What are the flaws and strengths of the current armed force system?
Azimi: The volunteers form 80% of Afghan army forces and they have been trained as professional forces. This system of recruiting soldiers is being implemented in Russia. Afghanistan can not adopt such system unless Afghanistan security improves, military service is discussed in Afghanistan constitution, though.
AVA: How will ANA expenses be met regarding the possible cutting down of foreign aids?
Azimi: Although there are people injecting the feeling of disappointment about the Afghanistan future, the World Community will annually aid Afghanistan with $4,100,000,000 after 2014 leading the ANA needs to be fulfilled for 10 years.
AVA: Are the American and West media reports on hundreds of ANA forces escape true? What is the reason?
Azimi: "These problems are being tackled. Our casualties have been reduced by 50% including martyrs and disabled soldiers. We are confronting technical issues but not operational problems."
AVA: Some charge Afghan Defence Department with corruption especially Gen. Daoud Hospital case. What is your response? How much does Afghanistan rely on the American superintendent?
Azimi: ANA's corruption is much less than any other state organizations since we control the budget closely. There has been no evidence relating Gen. Daoud Hospital case.
AVA: How do think of the UK secret prison in Helmand? What was the Defence Department reaction? What steps have government taken to retake the prison?
Azimi: Afghan government officially requested England to hand over the prisoners. According to law and Afghan-West agreement, if a suspect is detained by foreign forces, he should be handed over to Afghan government after 96 hours.
Gen. Zaher Azimi was born in 1954 in Herat and joined Mujahedin in 1978. After Mujahedin victory, he was promoted to major general and Herat commissioner. After fighting against Taliban in 2003, Azimi was appointed as the head of Defence public relations, public affairs and finally spokesman for the Defence Department.
Source : Afghan Voice Agency (AVA), Kabul
