300 pilots undergoing training, says AAF

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Afghanistan Air Force (AAF) says 300 of its pilots are undergoing training in different countries, hoping their return will add to its strength.

An AAF general said this at a meeting in the United States, where several senior officials from defence and interior ministries have arrived to attend a seminar.

The Afghan embassy in Washington organised a meeting for these officials on Monday. Several US officials also participated in the meeting, a statement from the embassy said.

Speaking on the occasion, Afghan Ambassador Dr. Hamdullah Mohib commended national and international forces for their fight against terrorism. Over the last three years, he said, reforms at the Ministry of Defence had led to growth in Afghan forces’ capacity and improvement in their fight against the militants.

Calling the fight against terrorism a global struggle, the diplomat stressed the need for further increasing the strength of Afghan security forces.

Gen. Shoaib Salarzai, an AAF commander, told the meeting Afghan forces had recaptured large areas from the Taliban.

He said Afghan Air Force was being strengthened and currently 300 pilots were receiving training in Afghanistan, the US and some other countries. The AAF would be beefed up with the return of trained pilots, the commander concluded.