First batch of Afghan army cadets passes out from PMA

This is the first ever group of Afghan National Army cadets who attended a course at Pakistan Military Academy

ISLAMABAD: First group of Afghan army cadets passed out from Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul in Abbottabad on Saturday.

Six Afghan army cadets, who had arrived at PMA in February last year, passed out from PMA along with the 134th PMA Long Course, 52nd Integrated Course and 6th Mujahid Course.

This is the first ever group of Afghan National Army cadets to attend a course at the PMA.

Afghan army cadets with ambassador Janan Mosazai in Islamabad. PHOTO: AFGHANISTAN EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD

President Mamnoon Hussain and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif were also present at the passing out ceremony.

In 2014, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had sent the cadets to Pakistan after General Raheel offered training courses at military academies in Pakistan for Afghan security forces during his maiden visit to Kabul.



Former President Hamid Karzai had long opposed Afghan forces training in Pakistan in spite of Islamabad’s repeated requests.

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif (L) and President Mamnoon Hussain (R) at the passing out parade at PMA Kakul on Saturday. PHOTO: ISPR

According to sources in military, besides the Afghan army cadets, six cadets from Palestine and one from Bahrain also passed out from PMA.

Afghan cadets are set to join their security forces back home at a time when the Afghan Taliban have announced their annual Spring Offensive.

Afghan officials and Taliban have confirmed severe fighting close to the strategic northern city of Kunduz.