Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Kabul (BNA) Washington has reaffirmed its commitments to Afghan air forces. During his visit to Kabul, US central command chief assured Afghan officials that the US is seriously considering requirements of ANSF including formulation of Afghan Air Forces.
Meanwhile, national ministry of defense has announced Afghan air force confronts several challenges and relies on foreign supports and there is a dire need to help Afghan pilots in Kabul airport and international community should seriously think about formulation of a strong Afghan sir force.
Commenting on the topic, Payenda Muhammad an Afghan pilot told that currently Afghan air force lacking sufficient military equipment’s to accomplish their tasks effectively due to none existence of gunship helicopters and other logistic planes including C208 planes which are used for transportation purposes and has the capacity to transfer up to 10 recruits at a time and Afghan air force looks forward to get C130 planes in the near future.
Another pilot expressed hope to receive military planes soon by the end of September that could support ANSF to transfer military personnel in other provinces of the country. It`s said that formulation of an Afghan air force has major significant for security maintenance in the country and international community should seriously work on it. Commenting on the topic, Gen. Zahir Azimi spokesman to the ministry of defense said that in the first step we intend to activate air transport to honor requirements on the current situations and to support our ground forces and protect aerial boundaries and for this purpose Afghanistan also needs latest radar system. Government of Afghanistan has always discussed these issues with its international counterparts and the issue was raised with the joint US forces chief as well during his recent tour to Kabul and in his meeting with the Afghan officials US commander vowed to support Afghan air force. Azimi said that formation of a strong air force requires more time and Afghan officials discuss the matter with deputy US defense secretary to assess and evaluate requirements of Afghan armed forces particularly the air force and to discuss ANSF capacities after 2014. Previously, Afghan air forces were using C27 planes and currently these planes aren’t useable.
