Big build up of Afghan defence force
• Taliban to build country’s anti-aircraft missile capacity to protect airspace and increase military personnel by one-third
Afghanistan’s defence force has received the largest share of funds from the country’s budget as the Taliban government aims to boost forces by a third and build anti-aircraft missile capacity, the army chief said in a rare interview with foreign media.
The defence ambitions of the Taliban, which took over in 2021, come in the face of strong international criticism of its policies, such as restrictions on work and education for women, that have hampered steps towards diplomatic recognition.
In his remarks on Tuesday, Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, a Taliban commander from the northern region of Badakhshan and the chief of army staff, condemned incursions by foreign drones into Afghan airspace.
Defence forces now numbering 150,000 are targeted to be increased by 50,000, he said, speaking in his office in the fortified defence ministry in Kabul, the capital. He did not reveal the actual figure of the funds.
“The ministry of defence is the top ranked in the budget,” he said, adding it was a priority in the budget, which is largely funded by boosted tax and customs revenue.
Since their takeover, the Taliban have spent 18 months building a civilian administration and a national military out of an insurgent force that fought a 20-year war against foreign forces and the previous USbacked Afghan government.
No nation has formally recognised the government, which is battling economic headwinds after sanctions on the banking sector and the cutting of all development aid.
Fitrat said a major defence focus was securing Afghan airspace against drones and other incursions.
“Anti-aircraft missiles are the need of countries,” he said, adding that all nations sought developed weapons to ensure the integrity of their territory and airspace, a problem Afghanistan also faced.
“We are doing our best to find a solution for protection of our airspace. We will work on it by using all our capability,” Fitrat added. “From where we will obtain it is confidential, but we should have it.”
Fitrat also stopped short of naming Pakistan, which the Taliban administration has regularly accused of allowing drones to enter Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment and officials have not confirmed whether its airspace is used for drone access to Afghanistan.
“We have always tried, and will try, to solve the issue using diplomatic ways, and we have done our best to be patient,” Fitrat said, but added a note of caution: “Neighbouring countries should not let our patience be exhausted.”
Pakistan has accused the Taliban administration of allowing Afghan territory to be used as a haven for militant groups. Among those is the Pakistani Taliban, which has stepped up attacks in Pakistan in recent months.
The Taliban administration denies allowing its territory to be used for attacks. There have been border clashes between both forces and analysts say that in the event of conflict escalating, Pakistan’s air force would give it a strong edge.
Fitrat said former security personnel, who constitute a significant share of Afghanistan’s forces, were being paid and treated in the same way as Taliban fighters.
WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR PROTECTION OF OUR AIRSPACE. WE WILL USE ALL OUR CAPABILITY
Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat Taliban commander
WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO BE PATIENT … BUT NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES SHOULD NOT LET OUR PATIENCE BE EXHAUSTED
Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat Taliban commander
The comments follow concern voiced by international rights groups and the UN that some former members of Afghan security forces members were targeted or killed. While the Taliban have declared a general amnesty for former combatants, saying they would investigate cases of wrongdoing, they have not detailed legal action regarding alleged extrajudicial targeting.