Attending in the graduation of 500 army force members in Herat province, Islamic Emirate Chief of Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat said that Afghanistan has at least 80,000 army members who are currently settled in eight corps across the country.

The chief of staff further said that the government will attempt to build an army of 150,000 members. “Everyone who is a volunteer will be recruited in the army and we will recruit professional people as well,” said Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat.

In the meantime, Qari Fasihuddin urged the Pakistan government to halt fencing along the Durand Line, saying the Islamic Emirate forces are completely able to protect the country’s borders.

“New fencing should not be put up, we asked the neighboring country to stop fencing,” he added.

At least 14,000 army force members are based in military units (corps and brigades) in western Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, a top security delegation including deputy ministers of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the deputy of the Intelligence Department have gone to Mazar-e-Sharif to assess the security situation of the northern provinces.

The security officials stressed that general amnesty has been announced and nobody including former security members should be detained or face harassment. The violators will be punished.