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ANA recruitment in Badakhshan up by 20pc this year

ANA recruitment in Badakhshan up by 20pc this year

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20 Jan 2016 - 19:09
ANA recruitment in Badakhshan up by 20pc this year
author avatar
20 Jan 2016 - 19:09

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok):  Up to 2,845 youth have been recruited into the Afghan National Army (ANA) in the northeastern province of Badakhshan, officials announced on Wednesday.

The appointments were made during the current solar year (beginning in March2015). On average 350 to 360 soldiers were recruited a month, said the commander of the ANA recruitment section.

Col. Mujtaba Sadat told Pajhwok Afghan Newsthe number of recruits was higher than the target fixed by the Ministry of Defence. At times, 60 youthwere recruited in a single day, he said.

A resident of Faizabad, Rozi Mohammad (22), joined the ANA in a spirit of defending Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territory by fighting against the enemies of the county.

Additionally, theANA offered attractive salaries and allowances to enable soldiers meet their family needs and motivate them to work with a sense of commitment, he added.

“Joblessness, poverty, insecurity and Taliban’s cruelty in my area made me join ANA ranks,” commented another resident of Warduj district, Naqibullah(25).

A member of provincial council, Ahmad Javed Javed, also noted insecurity and joblessness as the main factors behind recruitment. Even the educated youth are turning up for tests/interviews.”

Dozens of people from different parts of the province have been swelling the ANA ranks daily this year, with the number of recruits indicating a 20 percent, according to the public representative.

“Theirhigh sense of patriotism encourages youth to join the security forces and fight against terrorists,” believed a civil society activist, Syed Omar Bahir.

Poverty and corruption are other factors prompting youth to commit crime, consume drugs, leave the country or join the Taliban, he said.

According to the recruitment commander, 489 soldiers have renewed three-year contracts in the military.

This year, 83 people were nominated for officer training, 87sent to the Marshal Fahim Defence University, 40 to the air force and 49 to the academy of junior offices.

myn/mud

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