Afghanistan parades new national army on mujahedin victory anniversary

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.myafghan.com/news2.asp?id=-225752794

KABUL (AFP) - Thirteen years after Islamic mujahedin warriors ousted the Soviet-backed government in Kabul, Afghanistan celebrated the anniversary with a parade of troops from its fledgling national army and police. snip

"On this successful day of Afghanistan's jihad, I ask those who did not feel themselves secure in this country to come back and live a happy, comfortable life and take part in the recontruction of their country," he told the assembled crowd. snip

The mujahedin victory over Soviet-backed President Najibullah's government in 1992, three years after the withdrawal of the Russians, ushered in years of bitter internecine fighting which left the Afghan capital bombed to rubble by rival mujahedin commanders.

Fighters from the Islamist Taliban regime took Kabul in 1996 and enforced strict Islamic Sharia laws.

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[varun]

1. Same Mujahiddin....

...who are now "Al Qaeda"...

[Moderator]

2. kick to combine

[seriousstan]

3. Afghanistan Parades Army on Victory Anniversary

KABUL, 29 April 2005 — Thirteen years after Islamic mujahideen warriors ousted the Soviet-backed government in Kabul, Afghanistan celebrated the anniversary yesterday with a parade of troops from its fledgling national army and police.

Soldiers from the newly formed force that now stands at over 24,000 troops wore green uniforms and sat atop tanks, showcasing a new era in the country which was torn apart by a quarter-century of war.

The US-trained Afghan National Army is a multi-ethnic force with brigades of soldiers drawn from different tribes and nationalities and has so far proved popular with locals.

“We are making sure that every unit is ethnically balanced with all the different groups in Afghanistan. It seems to have been a success,” Lt. Col. Michael Pettigrew told AFP.

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