KABUL (PAN): Abdul Rahim Wardak, President Hamid Karzai's nominee for the defence portfolio, has said Taliban feared the Afghan National Army more than the foreign troops stationed in the country. Seeking a vote of confidence from the Wolesi Jirga on Monday, Wardak was answering questions from parliamentarians about the successes of his ministry over the past few years and the future plans. Other ministers who appeared before the Wolesi Jirga included minister-designate for Justice Muhammad Sarwar Danish and Education Minister Farooq Wardak. To a question from Maulvi Shahzada Shahid, Wardak said the morale of the Afghan National Army (ANA) was higher than ever. The opponents fear the Afghan army more than the foreign troops, he claimed. He said this was admitted by the foreigners themselves. Replying to a question from another member Muhammad Daud Sultanzoy, Wardak said the opponents were fighting a guerrilla war and using the hit and run policy. For this reason, he added, their long term military strategy was defensive. He said the defensive strategy was important because the army would have to cope with both internal and external threats in future. He said they would be able to fulfill the country's military resources after the number of army and police reach to 240,000 and 140,000 in the coming four years. He said there was no doubt that the international community was sincerely supporting Afghanistan in the fighting against terrorism. He said the international community could not kill its soldiers in Afghanistan for some hidden agendas. To various questions about civilian casualties in military operations, he said they were trying their utmost to keep the civilian losses at the lowest. He also rejected the rumours that his son was involved in smuggling. He also informed the parliamentarians about the presence of different corps, brigades, companies and units of the Afghan National Army and their operations in different areas of the country. He added the number of Afghan troops was 4,500 in 1383. It had increased from 100,000 during the current month while the education level of the officers had also been enhanced, he added. Wardak said 1,100 women had also been working on different positions in the army. He added the number would be increased manifold in the coming five years. He rejected reports about his dual nationality and said: "I'm only an Afghan citizen." dk/mud
