Monday August 17, 2020
Kabul (BNA) Afghan forces launched a large-scale exercise near the Durand Line in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province on Sunday, the military said.
The exercises were also carried out in Goshta district of Nangarhar province and Zazai district of Paktia province.
At least 15 people were killed in Spin Boldak district late last month after Pakistani forces fired artillery into civilian areas following protests by communities on both sides who were demanding the reopening of Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry in a statement said that the exercise that was launched in Spin Boldak district was named after those killed in shelling from Pakistan.
It said that the exercise involved ground forces, commandos, border forces and air forces who showcased their power and strength using light and heavy weapons.
General Yasin Zia, the chief of Afghanistan’s army, who inspected the exercise, said that Afghans should be assured that the country’s defense and security forces would independently defend Afghanistan’s territorial integrity at any cost.
MoD statement said that local residents including tribal elders in Spin Boldak welcomed the exercise and expressed their support to Afghan forces.
