Chai Interview with Brig. Gen. Mohammad Ibrahim Ahmad Zai Deputy Commander to ANA Recruitment Ministry of Defense
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What are your recent achievements in the ANA [Afghan National Army] recruitment?
We have had great achievements in structuring the ANA and have so far implemented our plan according to the plan since the establishment of ANA. Within the past three months, our achievements have been doubled or even three times bigger than the past.
On 6th December, you said in the press conference that you have recruited 7000 soldiers in ten days, is the process still going on the same?
Yes, the process is intensifying by each passing days. Volunteer youths who meet the needs are coming to the centers everyday. After the press conference held jointly with the Spokesperson to MoD, 16450 new men plus the mentioned number have been recruited. We have deployed them to the training centers whilst only some of them are still in the process.
How many ANA training centers exist in Afghanistan? What are your future plans to establish more centers?
There are six training centers one in Kabul and five regional centers in Khost, Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and one in Herat Province. In addition to this, the Turkey Units stationed in Kabul have committed to train 600 soldiers this week so one training center is now established by Turkey in Kabul. Moreover, one ANA Corps has been established in Helmand Province thus a training center is planned to be created in that province as well.
How many soldiers can be manned in each Training Center in one round?
The training centers are currently established in the structure of ANA Training Center Command and the number of officers got bigger. Each training center has the capacity to train 1400 soldiers in one round. There are very professional officers to train the soldiers. First of all, the soldiers will receive infantry trainings for two months then for three months when they are a bit professional.
At which level are these soldiers being trained?
You all can see that ANA's supplying, tactics, weapons, and equipments are at the NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] level and have the modern combat weapons. Most of the foreign partners who help us in the trainings are the NATO members. The soldiers and officers are being trained in NATO level and are ready to defend from the territorial integrity, people, national sovereignty, and serve their people.
What steps have you so far taken in public awareness field to encourage the youths join the ANA?
We preach widely in this regard. The ANA Recruitment Command structured in the framework of Armed Forces General Staff, MoD leadership, and MPs all went to the provinces together. The Provincial and District Governors, Ulemas, dignitaries, and scholars have been benefited from our awareness programs. We told the people about the rights, conditions, responsibilities, and duties of the ANA personnel so people are well aware. People have been coming to the ANA centers collectively as a result of our awareness programs because they know about their rights, privileges, and responsibilities. Moreover, we provide the local TV and Radio stations with the messages to send out. There are recruitment centers in 34 provinces of Afghanistan where the officials are educated at the international level and operating everyday to recruit the volunteer youths.
What are the recent improvements in the ANA salaries and other facilities?
Based on the 231st order of MoD Minister issued on 21/08/1388, the ANA salaries have been increased. A soldier had been receiving 6000 Afs in the past whilst it is 12000 Afs now. In general, there have been 2250 Afs increase in the salaries of all ANA personnel that include officers, NCO [Non Commissioned Officers], and soldiers.
How did the salaries increase put an effect on the ANA recruitment process?
The salaries increase certainly put in positive effects because Afghanistan is an agricultural country and the agriculture has been threatened due to the consecutive droughts in the country as well as three decades of war. So most of the youths are jobless that is why it has encouraged them to join the ANA.
Under which conditions do you recruit the youths in the ANA?
Based on the President's decree and ruling code of conduct, the volunteer citizens who join the ANA must meet the following conditions.
- Must have Afghanistan's citizenship and hold Afghan Tazkera
- Must be 18 – 35 years of age
- Must be loyal to the territorial integrity, national sovereignty, public interests, and instructions of Islam
- Must be healthy both physically and mentally
- Must not be infected to any infectious disease
- Must not be disabled or amputate
- Must not be addicted
- No criminal background
- Must not be officer or soldier in the armed forces because he will be fired from the previous Unit or Contingent of the armed forces.
How many ANA soldiers do we currently have and what are your future plans in terms of increasing the number?
The number of ANA personnel must be 134,000 by Qaws [solar month] of next year whilst it is over 100.000 personnel at the moment.
With what equipments and weapons is the ANA equipped with?
ANA is equipped with the modern weapons and equipments alike NATO. We are utilizing advanced techniques and like modern HUMWEE vehicles. So we don’t have any problem in terms of modern weapons and equipments. We are practically defending from the territorial integrity and sovereignty.
What does law order about the soldiers who escape the army before the completion of the contract?
The soldiers write in the accreditation letter on the very first day that they must be punished according to the law if they leave before three years of service. The Units and Contingents will inform us and we ask them again if they escape the army and take away the weapon, uniform and other things with them. Then, we will introduce them to the Units so the prosecutors in the Units will deal with them according to the law.
What is your message to the people in particular youths to join the ANA and serve their country?
Afghanistan is independent and has its own territorial integrity plus law. Under the Article 55 of the Afghan Constitution, it is the responsibility of every Afghan citizen to defend from the country. My message to those youths who meet the need to serve the ANA and ANP [Afghan National Police] and are 18 – 35 years of age is to refer to the recruitment centers in 34 provinces of Afghanistan in order to defend from their country, national chastity, sovereignty, health, roads, education, engineers, and doctors. Reconstruction won't take place unless security exists. Health won't be offered unless security exists. A country needs army to defend from its territorial integrity alike a house that needs walls and doors. The army is being structured from youths. I expect from the young generation to go to the recruitment centers in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. The recruitment officials are there to receive them and recruit them honorably. The Government pays all their expenses from the very first day till they are deployed to the capital.
Thank you
Thank you for coming here
