Biggest army academy inaugurated in Kabul by UK’s aid

KABUL: (MEP) – The largest military academy built with the financial support of United Kingdom in capital Kabul, was inaugurated in the presence of Afghan president Hamid Karzai and British defense minister.

President Karzai insisted for joint cooperation between Afghanistan and United Kingdom for the training of Afghan national army.

Karzai said the inauguration of the military academy was a major step towards the development of a professional army in Afghanistan. “We are inaugurating the military academy with the support of United Kingdom today, and I am confident that the combination of a professional military training and bravery of the Afghans will result into a unique military in the world,” Karzai told the officers who attended the inauguration ceremony, khaama reported.

He also added that Afghanistan will become a strong country and will stand on its own feet once the military officers receive professional military training and are graduated from the military academy.

The construction work of the Afghan national military academy formally started earlier in October last year. The academy is built in Qargha recreational zone at western part of capital Kabul.

The academy built similar to Sandhurst Royal military academy, will house around 120 teachers and trainers from United Kingdom and other western nations to provide trainings to Afghan national army officers.

The construction work of the military academy is estimated at around $42 million, and was signed by British prime minister David Cameron during his visit to capital Kabul in July last year.

Sandhurst Royal Military Academy is one of the credible military academies in the world where currently Afghan military and police officers are provided with the training opportunities based on the contract between the two nations.